Gary Speed RIP

Milltown Row2 · November 27, 2011, 01:12:16 PM

Depression will claim anyone from any background, class divide. Terrible for anyone to go through that. for it to drive you to kill yourself, and that being the only way out must be a very lonely place to be in.

Men still don't talk about it and this is what finally pushes them over the edge.

bridgegael · November 27, 2011, 01:13:19 PM

very sad, one of my favourite players back then, esp when he was at leeds. one of the great headers of a football.

Seamroga in exile · November 27, 2011, 01:17:21 PM

I had the privilege of watching him play for his beloved toffees a couple of times at Goodison. I met him once, he was a genuinely nice lad. Terribly sad news. God rest him.

SLIGONIAN · November 27, 2011, 01:25:58 PM

One of my favourite memories of Gary Speed, was when David O Leary swallowed his tongue playing for Ireland against Wales and with the game continuing on Speed stopped playing ran over to O Leary and help open the airway and called for medics, he made over 300 appearances for Leeds and came up through the ranks aswell, and won the old Division 1 title in 1992 which is now the premiership, he also played in 2 FA cup finals with Newcastle and played for Everton, sheff united, 85 caps for wales and was captain for 44 caps...

laoislad · November 27, 2011, 01:35:06 PM

Can't believe that.
He had Wales playing some great football recently too.
RIP

ExiledGael · November 27, 2011, 01:41:59 PM

Shocking news. Very weird I happened to read this on the Guardian football site yesterday. Well worth a read.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/nov/25/the-secret-footballer?INTCMP=SRCH

GalwayBayBoy · November 27, 2011, 01:43:04 PM

Very sad news. Robbie Savage said he was talking to him only yesterday on the phone and said he was in great form. Laughing and joking. You never know what's going on in someone's head underneath it all.

SLIGONIAN · November 27, 2011, 02:10:39 PM

Quote from: ExiledGael on November 27, 2011, 01:41:59 PM
Shocking news. Very weird I happened to read this on the Guardian football site yesterday. Well worth a read.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/nov/25/the-secret-footballer?INTCMP=SRCH

Thats an interesting article and got me thinking about an incident i had with GAA footballers father over a 1yr ago, he told me that his son was suicidal at what i was saying. It affected me deeply and i stopped posting on HS altogether and on here in terms of player performance with Sligo. I went back into HS and Gaaboard and copied and pasted everything i said about this player just to see what bothered him. I was shocked to myself at the tamenest of my comments, if i remember correctly the worst thing i said was "this player isnt up to county standard but i blame walsh for picking him, not the player who trys his best, but just not good enough" I did a background check on this player and he well known not to be able to take criticism and is very sensitive and there are family issues. I have said alot worse about other players but i never really knew you could affect them so much, i wouldnt be proud of hurting players feelings but at least i stopped. As you say none of know what goes on in each of our heads, but i have people round me in my life who i can share anything with and i hope everyone has the same. I think mental health shouldnt be shunned under the carpet and we need to tackle it head on.

Milltown Row2 · November 27, 2011, 02:14:13 PM

+1 Sligonian

ziggy90 · November 27, 2011, 02:37:07 PM

Absolute tragedy, he did seem a genuinely nice man. Condolances to his wife and family.

Forever Green · November 27, 2011, 02:56:20 PM

Shocking news. Was an absolute legend of a player and fast becoming a very good manager

RIP and God Bless

sammymaguire · November 27, 2011, 03:06:47 PM

What could drive a man like Gary Speed to do something as terrible as take his own life??

Dumb struck at that news.

muppet · November 27, 2011, 03:38:28 PM

Got a fair shock when I saw that news.

I would have regarded him particularly highly without knowing much about him really.

Very tough for his family. RIP.

ross4life · November 27, 2011, 03:52:37 PM

Shocked with the news, fine player not many could play in the top flight as long as he did! The silent killer depression has claimed another good person! awful disease.

paco · November 27, 2011, 04:01:27 PM

Was just going to post that link ExiledGael. It seems that it is becoming more normal to talk about it in the public sphere nowadays. There are a fwe things mentioned in that article, like the German referee who tried to take his life last weekend. Does anyone follow Stan Collymore on Twitter? He's been posting updates of his condition, for anyone interested. Anyway, RIP Gary Speed.