TWENTY-FOUR HOURS after the news first broke of Gary Speed’s tragic death at the age of 42, the tributes are still flooding in.
The Wales national side manager was found dead at his home early yesterday morning, sending the football world into shock.
This morning, Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, joined the tributes to the former Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton star.
“I’ve never known of such grief and loss,” the union chief told Sky Sports News earlier, “He was so popular, so friendly and I never heard a bad word about him. A real light has gone out in the football world.
“He was a great legend of a player and every time I saw him he had a smile. It’s terribly sad on behalf of everyone. He was one of our finest ever members, our sincere thoughts and condolences to his wife and sons.”
Police drive past Huntington Hall in Cheshire. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Yesterday’s football action went ahead despite the shocking news. A minute’s silence turned to a minute’s applause at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium before the scoreless draw against Aston Villa.
Visiting goalkeeper, Ireland’s Shay Given, was visibly upset before the kick-off. The Donegal man played with Speed at Newcastle.
Later at Anfield, Liverpool and Man City drew 1-1 after an entertaining 90 minutes with Mario Balotelli sent off after two yellow cards.
Speaking on RTE’s Today with Pat Kenny programme, former Leeds defender David O’Leary spoke of his shock this morning.
“It was probably about a couple of months ago [when I saw him last], “The biggest thing that struck me was watching the people who were really close to him like Shay.
“Knowing that he’d lost a great friend, teammate and mate and you know there’s genuine sadmess. And it saddened me knowing what Shay was going through. Football has lost a very decent bloke.”
More to follow
God speed, Gary Speed.
if you were never at a funeral of a person that has committed suicide and look into the coffin and then look at the family you might know what im talking about. and when the family are left with their grief these lovely words are no use to them. to lose a love one through sickness or an accident is bad but to lose a love one through this awful act is 100 times worst.
a lot of young people don’t see the connection between death and all these lovely words that people say when someone dies.
im sorry if i offend those people who don’t think of the ones that are left behind to grieve for the rest of their lives .
To be honest if someone had said the name Gary Speed to me a few days ago I wouldn’t have known who he was, I don’t follow soccer very closely, but still this story has really shocked me. I think it’s so sad that someone who seems so successful and has everything to live for can arrive at a point where they feel like the only option is to give up and leave behind a wife and kids.
And to come just a few days after reading this very moving article in the irish times – http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1126/1224308160074.html?via=mr – it makes me think that these situations are becoming more common. It is clear that this is becoming a serious problem and although I don’t know much about it maybe mental health issues are not being addressed in the right way at the moment. I hope, if anything, this story might kick start us into tackling the issues of mental health.
My thoughts are with the family of Gary Speed and the many others who are affected by suicide.
Nice one The Baxter. Spoken like a true f**kin idiot!
RIP Gary Speed a true legend!
Idiotic comment from a horses ass…..
You are right in what u say but the tragic part is that he was so troubled that he saw no other option than the action he took considering all us well minded individuals know what course of action he should have taken but he didn’t because at the end of the day he didn’t have the presence of mind to do what was right.
Unless you have been there pointing the end of a gun to your face or standing at the end of a rope we really don’t where this man or anyone else is at when they reach this point so let him born without sin cast the first stone.
Well said Rob. When someone does this they are not thinking straight. RIP Gary Speed. A true professional. Not many of them left in the game today. A very sad situation.
Edward I don’t think you really understand the complexities of depression. If you want an eye opening read have a look at Stan Collymores description of it on the Richie Sadlier story. For someone so dedicated, driven and professional to take an option like that suggests to me that he had lost his reasoning. Its shocking to leave kids behind but we can’t put ourselves in his position or will ever know to what depths he’d sank to. It’s just a tragedy all round.
Ricky the act of suicide usually comes with warnings, albeit subtle. Yes, the act itself is typically an impulsive one where you’re just swept up in a tidal wave of overwhelming despair compounded by irrational behaviour. Most people will experience that at least once in their lives either internally or externally but where people can be helpled is in the decision making process that leads up to it. If you’re thinking about suicide, you’re caught up in a destructive vortex. Reasoning might be suspended as you suggest, but in many cases it’s been proven that it hasn’t for those who have survived. The person involved is simply working on the basis that they have no other choices left to them. Which is completely irrational of course but as for depression being a cause in itself, that, as I already mentioned above is too loose to be descriptive of anything.
Edward, if they are operated on the basis that they have no other option, do you not agree that it’s unfair to call them all selfish?
Edward, if they are operating on the basis that they have no other option, do you not agree that it’s unfair to call them all selfish?
On the contrary. We are all capable of selfish behaviour be it irrationally driven. But that doesn’t excuse it. Irrational based thinking does not mean you don’t know what you are doing is right or wrong. That is why a drunk related crime is no excuse in the eyes of the law either.
Edward, if someone decides to commit suicide, having made the irrational decision that the world and their family would be better off without them, does that not make it unselfish, regardless of whether one might think they SHOULD have viewed it as a selfish?
No Rob it certainly could not be perceived in that way. Nobody who lives on this earth should feel they are a burden. Life is extremely precious and to destroy it because one might see themselves as relieving others of some perceived load is understandable but to choose death as a solution, that is way to big a price. Talk to the people who I have talked to who deal with this on a daily basis and ask them how they feel. Especially when it’s a young boy or girl. Talk to the Police and Paramedics and ask them whether these people were a burden or not? No matter how bad things are there will always be people who care, because I’ve seen them in tears. Yes, I can understand it might not seem that there’s nobody for some people but go travel the world and the love that’s out there is incredible. If it can’t be found closer to the home well then all the more reason you continue to live. Give someone else the chance to care!
I have had to deal with suicide myself, and have also experienced times where I myself have pondered it, and sometimes felt I was a burden, but fortunately had a mind sound enough at the time to get through that. Of course they shouldnt think theyre a burden and of course they should seek help, but thats not down to selfishness. If anything people dont seek help due to undue shame brought as a result of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
You’re still here Centurion and you’ve fought a good fight and won and that’s all that matters. Now go spread the gospel. Life is great :)
Also, by your first sentence there, “No Rob it certainly could not be perceived in that way”, it seems as though, while you may have a good understanding of the grief caused to the families, you have little understanding of the mindsets of those choosing suicide.To say outright that a one could not perceive it that way seems ridiculous, especially since I can perceive things that way. It seems as though we’re not going to reach any common ground here. I think you’re thinking on the topic would be less black-and-white if you yourself ever experience severe depression.
Sorry, *your.
I’m sure you’ll agree Rob, an open public forum is not the ideal platform to discuss issues like this, especially given the sensitive nature of what is now being discussed. You’re welcome to contact me via facebook if you wish to discuss this topic further but I’m going to sign off here.
Dead right, I was signing off myself really. G’luck.
If it is suicide and not a murder dressed up as one, this act is utterly selfish beyond words. What about his family, their pain will be forever, his is over! I think if anyone considering suicide actually sat down and thought about the consequences of their actions they simply wouldn’t do it. Not unless they were some deranged psychopath with not an ounce of empathy or sympathy in their bones. But this sort of nonsensical behaviour from a man who was clearly in the prime of his life beggars belief and for any one of you reading this who is contemplating such a thing, get help! Whatever it is you are going through, IT WILL PASS!
Its a mental illness called depression that most often leads to suicide. Depression tenda to leave people with a skewed vision of how the world is and how they are so, as you might expect, decisions are often skewed. Falsely seeing themselves as a burden or a nuisance can lead some to see committing suicide as doing a favour for their family. While they are wrong, to call all suicide cases selfish ignores the complexities of mental illness.
In fact, you said it yourself. This was nonsensical behaviour by a man described by all as utterly selfless.
Whatever the cause and whatever the label you wish to ascribe, I’m not ignoring mental illness as a caustive factor. In fact a high proportion of those with suicidal tendencies are shown to be borderline according to experts. That doesn’t explain anything and nor does it condone it. Depression is far too wide reaching a term to describe anything in particular and there many different types, but if you’re mentally organised enough to throw a rope over a beam, you’re capable of making a phone call for help too. There’s a decision making process at work there and that means choices were being made.
I’m aware depression is a far reaching term, but what Im trying to say is that yes, decisions are being made, but they are being made by a person who is viewing things and the world around them in such a way that, to them, suicide seems logical, and in many cases, an unselfish act. I am not saying I support them in their decision, the contrary would be the case. The decision making process is indeed at play, but the process becomes confused and irrational, which is difficult to understand for many with ‘normal’ or ‘rational’ frames of mind, because such a way of thinking is so foreign to the standard. I’m not going to lambast someone with an ill mind for making an ill-judged choice.
Edward, you’ve clearly had little to no experience with severe clinical depression (and I’m not saying that’s what the cause was in this case as all the facts haven’t come out yet). it’s entirely possible that the person may feel loved ones are “better off without them” for lack of a better phrase. As Rob mentioned perspective can become skewed beyond all reason to the point where suicide looks like the only viable option.
Also calling the suicide victims “deranged psychopaths” is just a disgusting statement. Are you really saying that people who kill themselves just don’t care about their families?, furthermore, while secondary psychopath (i.e. environmental psychopaths) have been known to commit suicide, primary psychopaths have a pretty great defense against depression, etc due to the inability to, ya know, feel emotions.
Maybe think before you type next time, champ.
@ DashRiprock “Are you really saying that people who kill themselves just don’t care about their families?”
Let you not make any assumptions about what I know and don’t know about clinical depression, but in response to your comment above, yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Put whatever spin on it you like, suicide is a deeply selfish act and a solution for nobody else but the person who has put a premature end to a healthy life, plain and simple.
I’m not really putting so much of a “spin” on it as a “medical condition” on it. And obviously It’s not depression every time but whatever the reasons these people should be pitied not reprimanded post mortem.
You have my apologies for whatever you felt I insinuated but your opinion on this comes across as so black and white that I felt it was a safe assumption. Again, if I’m wrong, my apologies.