Speed and Socrates

As a kid I watched the great Brazilian side of 1982 compete in the World Cup and wished I could play like their skipper Socrates. Given that none of you will have noticed my name listed in any professional outfits over the years – let alone an International squad – it won’t come as a surprise that I never ‘quite’ realised that particular fantasy.

As an adult I watched a classy midfielder by the name of Gary Speed turn out for the likes of Leeds, Everton, Bolton and Newcastle and wished all footballers could conduct themselves in the same way as the Welsh wizard. Some do, but most don’t of course – and frankly who among us can say that we do so in our own lives?

The reason why football fans have been mourning these two guys for the last week is that they were exceptional people - as well as players. The contribution they made to the game was as whole-hearted as it was effective and they were then also able to share and add to their talents or build upon them away from football. The sad thing is that they were also both relatively young and so still had time to offer very much more.

The tributes for Gary Speed have been touching. While most 'eyes' were on the one minute applause at the Premier League grounds this weekend, I was part of a significantly smaller tribute at non-league Salisbury where the visiting Grimsby fans joined the home support to pay their respects. I dare say that this scene was replicated at most of the other football grounds in the country. I hope Gary's family get to hear of this as well.

We all read about the vicious chanting by Manchester United and Liverpool morons earlier in the season – goading each other about the horrors of Munich and Hillsborough. Well I’d like to give a 'shout out' to all of those fans – the vast majority of us, I believe – who don’t treat tragedy like it is part of some TV soap opera and realise that it’s very real and very painful - especially to those closest to the victims.

A special mention to the classy Manchester United fan who laid out his red shirt at the foot of the Billy Bremner statue outside Elland Road. On it bore the inscription: From a football fan to a football legend. If that isn't showing true class, I don't know what is. Morons - look and learn.

There have been (and I guess will continue to be) questions asked about Speed’s suicide and Socrates alcohol use and lifestyle, but they don’t really interest me. All I know is that I had the pleasure of watching two excellent players - from slightly removed eras of the game – showing us what it took to be truely exceptional in what they did and I’ll always be grateful for the memories.