R.I.P. Gary Speed

Today is a sad, sad day for the world of football and all concerned with it.

At 7:08 this morning, Cheshire police were informed of an incident at Aldford Road, Huntington. The news that has since followed from that incident has left the entire football community in absolute shock. 


Gary Speed was the ultimate professional. Never one to live life in the tabloids, he has in recent months turned Welsh football around. The Welsh international team was not one to light up the world. They have not qualified for a major international competition since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, the only time in their long history. Now under the managerial guidance of Speedo, the future looked very bright for Wales football. Though the playing staff remains unchanged, and for this reason one must believe that this future remains a strong possibility. However one must wonder if the passion and cohesiveness that gave them such a drive to win has died along with their manager. Though this of course is only speculation and we will all continue to speculate until the next wales international fixture.

One thing that we need not speculate on is the person that Gary was. I have spent the past several hours listening to tributes pouring into both the BBC and Sky Sports News news-desks and the one thing that continues to ring through is that Gary Speed was the ultimate pro. He was a friend worth having.
Listening to men like Robbie Savage, who in my mind was always one of the toughest men to ever line out in the Premier League, come to tears as he reminisces over the life of his close friend was enough to strike a chill down spine of any person. 

Howard Wilkinson, Former Leeds United manager and the man who gave Speed his Break in football said that Gary was simply a man "with a gift who wanted to share it with the world". Having seen Gary play for Newcastle United and Bolton and Sheffield United, I as a fan can confirm, for those of you unfortunate enough to have never seen him grace the pitch, that Gary was indeed a truly gifted player and was fast showing his gift as a manager. In Wilkinson and Speed's old haunt of Elland Road the Falgs have all being flying at half mast today in a mark of true sorrow and respect.

A true legend in the sport but his is a talent and a person who transcended football as was proved today before the Harlequins and Newcastle Rugby Match. But as for the respect shown in his own sport, the match between Swansea and Aston Villa today showed the greatest of respect. Though many suggested it be called off the match did go ahead just an hour after the very sad news began to break. And perhaps a fitting tribute that the first stadium in the world to pay its  respect on a matchday was one  in Wales and in both teams were members of Speeds wales squad as well as some very close friends such as Shay Given who was seen to shed a tear at the start of that match. The one minute silence, a long standing tradition in Football soon  turned to applause, echoing the tributes paid to the late George Best after his passing.

The Liberty Stadium was not the only one to pay tribute today. A minute silence was impeccably observed in Anfield, where Gary's close friend Craig Bellamy pulled out of the game due to his grief being so very raw. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who once signed Speed for Newcastle United, brought it all back home when he said " The most important people right now are his wife and kids".

Regardless of how it ended at his own hands, Gary Speed's life and career was nothing short of incredible. A household name throughout Britain, Ireland and beyond. Gary will be missed by all involved in the sport and his was a work ethic that if followed by all then Football would certainly be a much simpler game to be in.

R.I.P. Gary Speed