News today that an inquest on Gary Speed’s death will be opened today at the coroner’s court at Warrington Town Hall.
Gary Speed with his wife Louise
There will also be a full full hearing on Gary’s shocking death at some later date, and the date is yet to be determined.
The happily married and very successful father of two was found hanged by his wife, Louise, in the garage of their £1.5M home in the village of Huntington, near Chester, shortly after 7:00 am on Sunday morning.
At former clubs where Gary Speed played, scarves, football shirts and various mementos have been left in memory of Gary, and that’s happened at St. James’ Park, where he played for six years from 1998 until 2004.
Other football stadiums where this has happened are at Goodison Park, Elland Road and Millennium Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium, where Wales played their home games.
And there is good news today that five top-class footballers have come forward and asked for help from the Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance Clinic.
The Chief Executive Peter of the Sporting Chance Clinic had this to say today:
“I’ve received emails and phone calls from five players since Gary Speed’s passing, all of whom have said, “I have got to do something about this. I need help”.
“It is fair to say Gary’s death has prompted them to ask for help.” ” Actually admitting you need help is one of the hardest and bravest decisions to make and at the clinic we will do all we can to try and get their lives back together.”
“They are talented and hard-working and they perform in front of huge audiences, so I can see why they may suffer from stress and pressure more than others. But that aside, they are normal human beings.”
“‘We don’t know what the reasons are for Gary Speed’s death and it would be wrong to even start to guess, but it shows that support and counselling is vitally important for footballers who face problems in their lives.”
A Newcastle United scarf placed at the entrance to Gary’s house in Huntington, near Chester
One example of a former player who has gone public with his depression is former Liverpool player Stan Collymore, and Peter had this to say about Stan:
“Stan Collymore came out and said he suffered from depression some years ago and his manager John Gregory went on record to say, “how could he be depressed on £20,000 a week?”
“You can suffer from mental illness if you are a dustman on £200 a week or a footballer on £200,000 a week. There is no difference.”
‘What Gregory was displaying was the dinosaur attitude which was still around back then. Thankfully it is getting better because people are becoming more educated about the fact that mental illness, or addictions, can happen to anyone.”
“It can happen to kings, queens and princes as well as farm laborers.” “The work the clinic has done with the likes of Tony Adams and, more recently, Joey Barton has improved some perceptions.:”
“However, there are still significant numbers of fans who go to football matches and think that gives them a right to verbally abuse a player, by asking whether his wife likes to have sex in a certain way.”
Joey Barton sought help from the Clinic for his drinking problems, after being jailed for six months in the summer of 2008 for assault, after Joey had been drinking in the Liverpool City center, and the QPR midfielder has been very complimentary about their work.
After Joey had been treated by the Clinic, he had th to say about their work, back in 2009:
“It was a life-changing experience. I learned that asking for help doesn’t make you weak and walking away from trouble doesn’t make you a coward.”
“That was the best thing I’ve ever done.” “It has given me a totally different outlook on why things happen.”
“That doesn’t mean I won’t make mistakes, because since then I have. But I have a different thought process and way of handling things now.”
Depression is a terrible disease, and as we said yesterday, if Gary’s tragic death can help other people, particularly men, come forward with their problems, that would be a very good thing.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
geordiesteve520
Nov 29, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Comment #1Depression is such a uniquely personal problem that manifests itself differently in everyone; having watched Gazza’s interview a few weeks ago it was clear that depression (among other reasons) was a trigger for his drinking etc. Until it is fully accepted as a ‘real’ problem we cannot hope to eliminate it. Such as shame, that Gary felt life was hopeless – here’s hoping Sporting Chance can work their magic and help those affected by this tragedy and perhaps some good can come from this awful scenario.
veto
Nov 29, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Comment #2depression , and gary speed the day before he did it and the weeks we have seen him leading upto it , its like night and day .
there has got tobe more to this story .
planb
Nov 29, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Comment #3When Barton was in jail was he the prison Joey?
soundoid
Nov 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Comment #4I work in media quite a stressfull job, the stress hits you when you stop. It could be possible because Gary had been so busy that when he stopped he had a nervous breakdown.
spitfire_
Nov 29, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Comment #5Call me Mr. Conspiracy but I can’t accepts that Gary commit suicide. Somethin wrong. He had lovely wife, two boys and all love in the world. A legion of friends which was ready to do everything for him and everybody loves him. How he can commit suicide? If some family guy have some problems all what he need to do is to think about his family and love which is around him. Suicide is not a solution. I just can’t accept that one strong person one of my idols will do this. It’s just… I don’t know… I cried my eyes in disbelief what happend.
murvar
Nov 29, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Comment #6Great tribute by the normally satirical Fifth Official on ESPN Soccernet yesterday.
The Fifth Official
A model professional out on his own
November 28, 2011
Email Print
By The Fifth Official
(Archive)
Gary Speed 1969-2011
Associated
Gary Speed: A model professional
This weekend will forever be remembered as one when football lost a great man. Gary Speed was the embodiment of a professional footballer, a man who took his responsibilities on the field as seriously as those off it. If the dominating culture in today’s top flight is one of excess and greed, here was a man who exuded honesty and integrity; well liked and respected, even by those who supported the sworn enemies of the clubs he played for.
You knew what you would get from him as a player: unwavering commitment and a desire to lead from the front. Having seen him on numerous occasions at various different clubs throughout his career, his form may have fluctuated but his heart was forever strong. Whether having a stormer or a stinker, he would never shirk a tackle or stop showing for the ball. Managerial greats like Howard Wilkinson, Sir Bobby Robson, Kenny Dalglish and Howard Kendall knew what he offered and assembled teams around him. A record of 535 appearances rightly enshrines Speed as one of the most pivotal figures in the Premier League’s 19-year history.
Even in a short time as manager of Wales, Speed managed to instil a sense of belief back into a proud but slumbering football nation. Players were desperate to play for him, fans keen to back him. Appearing on Saturday’s Football Focus, Speed beamed with enthusiasm as he spoke about the future; less than 24 hours later he was dead aged just 42, leaving behind a wife, two young sons and a game united in grief and disbelief.
Football will be a much poorer game without Gary Speed. Let’s face it, if everyone in the game were like him, I’d have nothing to write about every week. But they are not, so even though what follows is trivial in the extreme, I suppose the show must go on…
The hairdryer of justice
You can’t beat a good slice of injustice at Old Trafford. Manchester United react to poor decisions as if they expect the United Nations to intervene on their behalf. Forg
bills-son
Nov 29, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Comment #7Gary’s wife and his agent, one of his best friend’s, have said that he definitely was not suffering from depression.
That does not mean to say he wasn’t, but most wives with a close relationship with their husband would know if they were suffering from depression even if close friends didn’t.
Speculation about depression is therefore exactly that – speculation.
derekm
Nov 29, 2011 at 4:27 PM
Comment #8If ever you wanted to see why the hierarchy cleared out Joey Barton then his latest twitter rants show exactly how well shot of the disruptive imbecile we are. To comment on why he was shown the door at such a time as the death of Speed shows how little he thinks of anyone but himself. The fact that the club has progressed since his departure must be pulling him apart, and to bring up the bonus row right now is irrelevant and smells of sour grapes. Personally his constant swiping at Ashley and Llambias achieves nothing – the bonus system was sorted out to the players satisfaction and ever since Joey left they have gelled to be an even stronger unit. QPR are not the force he thought they would be with their many signings, and although they may well not be relegation fodder, they will never be one of the top six sides his agent informed all and sundry were interested in him! Joey – concentrate on your new career, cos your Toon days are over mate, and we’ve all moved on.
bills-son
Nov 29, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Comment #9derekm @ 8 – well said.
Barton is history.
He thought NUFC would crumble without him, Nolan and Enrique, especially with Carroll also gone.
How wrong he was eh? And you are dead right, it must be eating the big mouthed shyster’s insides out.
samuelwongsl
Nov 29, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #10my deepest condolences to a great gentleman!!
spanishtoon
Nov 29, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Comment #11Hi everyone…i always read but rarely comment on here. Im not sure if someone else mentioned this but really interrsting podcast by qpr supporters called open all r’s. This week was interview with barton for an hour and he goes into incredible detail on why he left…ashley llambiasetc. Irs fascinating listening….many apologies if its been mentioned already. Cheers.
seantoonsean
Nov 30, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Comment #12im guessing he was a gay b in debt c a kiddy fiddler……c is my guess to leave a legacy like this to his kids that will be crazy in the head shame on you…more important hope toon win on saturday
Dondatta13
Nov 30, 2011 at 2:56 AM
Comment #13@#12 ……..
Man, bite your tongue…. You just labelled Gary Speed a “Kiddy Fiddler”??? Have a word.
Regarding Gary appearance on Football Focus…
I didn’t see it when it aired, however I did see the opening segment after this aweful news broke.
When the program started you can clearly see Gary playing with his wedding ring, psychologists will tell you that this is a sign that all is not well within the marriage.
P.S i’m not a psychologist, it’s just an observation.
Solaidback
Nov 30, 2011 at 7:08 AM
Comment #14seantoonsean @ 12 – You complete moron.. have you no respect, if not for yourself, think of others, his family & friends… I hope someday when you’re taken from your life, people say the same things about you.. you call yourself a Toon, you’re a frakin disgrace for a human being!!!
Its people like you, who have nothing better to do in their lives that cause so much pain & suffering for people who suffer from illnesses like depression, as they fear showing idiots like you their personal weakness & tend to try to end their lives instead of suffering moronic fools like you!!!
As for Gary’s agent saying he wasn’t depressed, its quite possible that Gary himself didn’t know he was & that it hit him bad & he couldn’t handle it, we will never know..
I’m not religious but if there is such a place, I’m sure other legends will look after you… RIP my friend!
Solaidback
Nov 30, 2011 at 7:10 AM
Comment #15Dondatta13 // Nov 30, 2011 at 2:56 AM
When the program started you can clearly see Gary playing with his wedding ring, psychologists will tell you that this is a sign that all is not well within the marriage.
P.S i’m not a psychologist, it’s just an observation.
—————————————————————————
Thats no entirely true fella, when someone plays with there wedding ring, it’s usually a sign that they’re thinking about their marriage, not that there’s a problem with the marriage 🙂
Solaidback
Nov 30, 2011 at 7:13 AM
Comment #16Btw Ed, depression is an ‘illness’ not a disease yeah, it’s not contagious or contractable by touch ok 🙁