Continued tributes for Gary Speed

In my previous 250 plus posts I don’t recall ever writing about the same topic back to back on successive days, whatever the topic has been. In that respect, it shows what a profound effect the loss of Gary Speed has had not only on myself, but judging by the 606 phone in, the hundreds footballers he played against, the hundreds of media and journalists he came across, and the equally hundreds of Joe Bloggs people in the street he came into contact with and treated equally.

I’ve just finished listening to the 606 from yesterday evening, with Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher. First off, kudos to Robbie and Darren for getting through the 60 minutes. It sounded very emotional, very difficult to push on at times, but I know you did Gary proud. Every time the Welsh anthem came on, like Robbie, and many other Welsh folk, it brought the onset of tears. It’s just one of those anthems that stirs the soul and can never tire of listening to it. That is coming from me, an Englishman, puts our anthem to shame in the liveliness, heartfelt emotion that pours into it. Anyway, I’m going off on a tangent.

Throughout the show I found myself with the tears welling, yet at the same time smiling at the stories that were being told about this incredible man the world has lost. I don’t think there is a word that does justice to the scale of the man. I’ve never met him, but just from stories told you can build a picture of a man. With every story being positive, showing that Gary had time for everyone and anyone, never let fame go to his head, stayed professional, it’s easy to see why he’ll be missed. A lot of current footballers should listen to that 606, and take on board all the things that described Gary Speed and base themselves on the model he left behind. Football would be a better place for it, scrap that, the world would be a better place if that were to happen.

At this time, it would be foolish not to point out this. Even though people seem fine on the outside, can be laughing and joking, looking to the future, and generally seeming well, the inside could be taking a pounding. It’s the inside that needs to be looked out for. I’m not saying people around him missed the signs, maybe there were none or he hid them well, but normally when something is so tragically turmultuous inside as it could have been for Gary for him to take his life, there’s signs. Look out for them in people around you who you care about. We don’t need more good people throwing away good things ahead.

I can’t resist putting in the Welsh anthem.