David Batty is a Leeds United legend. A player who spent two large portions of his career at Elland Road after coming through the academy, and he can now list Paul Scholes among his admirers.
Renowned for his tough-tackling, passionate performances in a Leeds shirt, Batty made his debut for Leeds in 1987 and after coming through the Thorp Arch academy under the guidance of Billy Bremner.
The story goes that Bremner would call Batty into his office every morning, with Batty’s slight frame a concern. The then-Leeds manager would mix a raw egg into a sherry for the teenage midfielder.
Batty went on to play north of 250 games for Leeds during his first spell, returning to Elland Road in 1998 for a second spell before retirement in 2004 with the club relegated. Batty played 373 times for Leeds.
Paul Scholes says David Batty never got the credit he deserved
Paul Scholes never played alongside Batty at club level, obviously. But Scholes’ England debut, a 2-1 win over South Africa in 1997, saw him come off the bench eight minutes after Batty had entered the fray.
England beat a side that included Lucas Radebe and had scored through Phil Masinga. The winner came with Batty and Scholes in midfield, and on The Good, The Bad and The Football, Scholes discussed Batty.
He said Batty was underappreciated, and recalled playing some of his first England caps alongside the Elland Road legend in the late 90’s: “David Batty is a great lad. I really liked him, great player as well.
“He probably didn’t get the credit he deserved. Some of my first England games were with him, and he helped me. Good talker. You never see anything of him now. Has anybody heard from him?”
What Tim Sherwood replied to Paul Scholes about David Batty
It has become renowned that Batty never actually liked football, and the midfielder has almost become a social recluse since retiring. Robbie Keane and Rio Ferdinand say Batty is missing from a WhatsApp group.
Batty was a champion of England on two occasions, firstly winning with Leeds in 1991-92 and then with Tim Sherwood at Blackburn in 1994-95. Replying to Scholes, Sherwood says Batty is still off the radar.
“Every 10 years, it’s been 30 years, we meet up with Blackburn but he’s never there. I’d love to see him, what a character. Underestimated for what he did, he’d win the ball back better than anyone,” he said.
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