Richard Sutcliffe: Gary Speed was an ordinary, decent man happy to chat to fans about anything at all

TO many, the abiding image of Gary Speed will involve one of his considerable playing deeds.

It could be from his stint in a Leeds United shirt, maybe a tantalising cross from the left flank or a typically cool finish as Howard Wilkinson’s side emerged from the Second Division to win the First Division title in the early Nineties.

Alternatively, the image that springs most readily to mind could be of Speed wearing the colours of Everton, Newcastle United or Bolton Wanderers. Or, for those in the Steel City, the red and white of Sheffield United, who of course he managed for a short time last season before accepting the offer to take charge of Wales – a job he had been doing with commendable success.

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The image of Gary Speed that I thought of after digesting yesterday’s shocking news was one from less than a year ago.

Gary was still at Bramall Lane and, as happens every Christmas, the managers of all the Yorkshire clubs had been invited to a lunch by the local media.

The event is very much off-the-record, all notebooks and dictaphones being left at home to allow everyone the chance to relax for a welcome few hours.

It is a highlight of the year, helped on its way by the steady flow of booze that fuels the bonhomie felt by those present. Even those managers and members of the press who may have had disagreements over the previous 12 months can usually be relied on to put any problems aside to enjoy the lunch.

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After the meal, the journalists and managers will invariably sit around and chew the fat over a few more drinks. Then, as darkness descends and the catering staff start hinting that they would like to go home sometime soon, the party breaks up.

Usually, the press retire to the nearest hostelry to continue the fun before weaving our way back into the city centre. Most of the managers, meanwhile, decide that maybe a random back street pub in a part of town they do not know is maybe not the most sensible place to be for someone with such a high-profile.

Sadly, in the modern day, it is perhaps a sensible approach – discretion being the better part of valour, considering what can happen if some hothead takes exception to the presence of a manager from a hated rival club.

For Gary Speed, however, there was no way he was going home

after leaving Bramall Lane. He had enjoyed the lunch, and particularly the chance to catch up with former Leeds team-mates John Sheridan and Tommy Wright.

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I had been fortunate enough to be sat at their end of the table, and was able to enjoy the banter that flew back and forth between the trio. They were all hungry for gossip about their former club, and as all three had been heroes of mine as a youngster it felt surreal to be able to oblige. A great time had been had by all.

As tradition dictates, the most recently appointed manager does a short speech after lunch has been served and Gary happily obliged before handing over to Micky Walsh, the Doncaster Rovers director of football who is never short of an amusing story or three.

The laughs continued over the road from Bramall Lane at The Railway pub, where the traditional annual game of ‘killer pool’ got under way. Gary did not win, but he was having great fun.

We moved on to various pubs in the Steel City, finishing in the Sheffield Tap pub that can be found at the city’s railway station.

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By now, only the stragglers – including Gary and the Chesterfield management team – were left. Obviously, the presence of the Sheffield United manager in such an unlikely location was causing something of a stir among those taking the chance to enjoy a quick drink before catching the train home.

Eventually, a couple plucked up the courage to approach the unexpected guest.

Gary was charm personified, immediately putting the two fans at ease and making them feel like he would like nothing more than to spend a few minutes chatting happily about anything at all.

Which, as anyone who has spent time in Gary’s company, was probably true.

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And that is why the image that most readily sprang to mind when the terrible news about his death broke yesterday was that of Gary Speed being an ordinary, decent man. Because, as Howard Wilkinson says elsewhere on this page, that is exactly what he was. RIP, Gary Speed.