One Gary Speed

As you was all tucking into the traditional Sunday roast of a cold winter November day, none of you would have been expecting to witness on the news, or to receive messages from friends, that Gary Speed had passed away, I sure wasn't watching the news at dinner time, I had to re-read twice and listen twice as the reporter broke the news of the former Premiership stars death. In an even more shocking turn of events an hour or so later, grim details came out that he took his own life. Why he did this, is still unclear, so I won't speculate about the subject.

The news rocked the football world, with people feeling, numb, cold, shocked, by the news. The news came just hours before Swansea were set to play Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium, the tribute which was paid, was very moving, a standing ovation, for one of Wales' best players, and potentially could have been one of the greatest managers too, as Speed was looking at turning the Welsh woes to a thing of the past, with recent wins over, Switzerland, Montenegro and Norway.

'One Gary Speed' rang round the ground that Sunday afternoon in Swansea, and other clubs followed suit as and when their games suited, Shay Given, a close friend of Speed, was tearful before the sides kicked off for the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Understandably, the players minds would have been elsewhere that day.

Tributes poured in from all over the football world, and general public, most people commented with the same opinions and thoughts of him, as a 'good bloke' 'geniune person' 'father figure in football'. Robbie Savage, a close friend of Speeds, is tearful as he gives an interview live on the BBC shortly after his death is announced

Bolton was one of the clubs Speed played
for during his career

Gary Speed's former clubs included, Leeds United, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Newcastle United, and Sheffield United, he was the first player to have surpassed 500 Premier League appearances, in his club career he scored 103 goals from 677 appearances. He is also Wales most capped outfield player with 85 caps, and 7 goals to go with this. He also was skipper at every club he has been at, a true inspirational leader it goes to say.

Quotes, came in around the clock for Speed, as news broke of his death,

"I was given the tragic news this morning. To say I am devastated is an understatement."- Aaron Ramsey

"Gary was a magnificent person, bright, fun and a wonderful family man - he lit up every room he walked into. I am proud to have been his friend and will miss him dreadfully." - Alan Sheaer

"He was an amazing and talented player, one who had a glittering career, and he had just started a great career in management.- David Beckham

Speed's legacy on the pitch and how to behave away from the pitch will be one to hold up to youngsters in the future, as Speed never got himself into bother, he also made time for other people, a true gent on an off the field of play, he shyed away from the media spot light, and lived a very private and average life, unlike certain players of today. He never was in the press for bad things. A true role model.

'One Gary Speed'

To round off this tribute to Speed, I will leave below a couple of videos, of fan tributes to the late, great, former Premiership football player, the football world has lost, a great potential manager, but the world has lost, a great gentleman.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

RIP Gary Speed 8th September 1969 - 27th November 2011

Gone... But not forgotten

Derby Day - What Does It Mean

Sheff Wed players go and celebrate with their fans

When the new batch of fixtures are released over the summer, fans of clubs across the nation eagerly await when they will face their city, or local rivals in the football league calender, with the date very thickly rounded on the calender at home, usually noted down as 'derby day'.

Forgive neutral fans who may ask, why is 'Sheff Wed vs Sheff Utd so huge, its a League One derby'. To fans of other sides, its just a derby in the fixture calender which is just like watching another derby as a neutral. Say to them, why is the Forest vs Notts County derby so big, you'll get a differance response from their sets of fans. Only fans of the clubs involved know how much these two fixtures mean to them, no one else.  

Passion, Pride, Heart, Desire, Determination judge
the outcome of derby matches

A Derby game for me, is two stand alone home and away fixtures of the season, the form book goes out of the window, and its who has the most, heart, passion, and determination to be victorious by full time. Some fans will say this is their biggest game of the season and they don't care what happens to them, so long as they do the double. Its okay saying this, especially if you're a smaller club who isn't expected to do much. For larger clubs, such as both Sheffield sides for example, these kind of comments shouldn't even be said, as both sides should be rallying for promotion over anything else. A derby victory is nice, but to watch your side have the double done over them by your city rivals, is   
a small price to pay if you see the side you love lift the trophy at the end of the season.

Are foriegn players taking the passion out of derbies on the pitch?

Some sides in the football league do not have a 'city' rivalry, which I feel actually is the only pure derby you can have in honesty. Doing one over your city rivals is better than anything else. Fans of Cardiff, Swansea, Leicester, Derby may disagree, none of these sides share city rivalries with league sides. All are 'local' derbies, but will still carry the same passion to their sets of fans.

One sad thing I do think is, in the higher leagues, 'derby day' has lost its touch on the pitch, and its starting to lose it in the lower leagues too, the passion between the fans will always stay the same, on the pitch, with the introduction of more foreign players, who don't understand what this game means to everyone, they may have an idea, but not a full idea. Players who have grown up in the area and played for their boyhood clubs know exactly what it means, Steve Gerrard, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are fine examples. Two played for the red side of Mersyside, the other the Blue, and they will know how much more this game means, than someone from the continent. The same example can be drawn to foreign players playing in Europe too I guess.

One thing, I do disagree about derby days, is the fact it is an excuse to go out and fight and 'rep' your club. I know and understand all the passion of a derby match having been present during our recent trip to Bramall Lane, the atmosphere was buzzing from both sets of fans, passion was on the pitch and the will to win was there from both sides, fans having bits of banter during the game, made the occasion what it should be. But it shouldn't be taken any further than this. Whats the point, its a game of football at the end of the day, and seriously, is there any need to actually go out and kill, stab, or badly injure somebody in the 'name' of your club, you bring shame to the side. Not pride.


Whether you go and watch, Plymouth vs Exeter, Sheff Wed vs Sheff Utd, Cardiff vs Swansea, two non-league sides compete in their derby of the season, the passion will always be the same between the fans.