Gary Speed – A year on

Exactly one year ago to the day, Swansea took at Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium. Hardly the most enlightening of Super Sunday fixtures, you have to admit. However, the focus that afternoon wasn’t on the events unfurling in South Wales, but rather a more harrowing tale four hours drive away that had begun to filter through.

A 7am that Sunday morning, Gary Speed had been found hanged by his wife Louise in the garage. An inquest reached a verdict that, with the Police not treating his death as suspicious, that the then Wales manager had committed suicide.

The footballing world was stunned. Prior to the Sunday, Speed appeared on Football Focus, with presenter Dan Walker claiming the former Leeds United and Newcastle United midfielder as being in “fine form”.

Nevertheless, when it had been announced of the news, the football family stopped to really take in what had happened. Speed, it has to be said, is a Premiership legend – one of the players we all grew up with watching and admiring.

A year on, that hasn’t changed. Those associated with the game still believe there is a Speed shaped hole missing and it’s one that will never be filled. A year ago today, football lost a true legend and a gentlemen and it’s a testament to his input that fans still grieve over the loss of one of football’s finest players and friends, both on and off the pitch.

R.I.P. Gary Speed – thoughts and prayers going out to his friends and family on this tough day. 

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