Kevin Beattie

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Apologies for not being Oldham related but was sad to hear that Kevin Beattie died this week aged  64 - He had been working as a radio pundit on Saturday for Radio Suffolk and died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

For those of a certain vintage he really was a superb player for the best Ipswich team ever  produced which was managed by Bobby Robson who had guys like Mick Mills, Wark,Muhren,Thijssen,Mariner,Brazil and Gates and the  Ipswich Fans regard him as their Greatest Ever Player. 

I enjoyed watching him play and although he was mainly a CB he could play anywhere - Bobby Robson said he was the best player alongside Duncan Edwards England had ever produced. 

I met him on two occasions and he was a sound down to earth guy - No heirs or graces just a working class guy who was a cracking footballer -  He was so important to Ipswich he was playing nearly every week with cortisone injections and  that did for him as  sadly through injuries  he was finished  and had to retire at 27 - He tried to come back at Middlesborough and in Norway  but he was done to all intents and purposes.

His life after football followed a familiar path for top level players forced to finish early and he bought a pub which led to his downfall on the booze - He lost the lot but eventually got his act together for  the sake of his wife,kids and grandchildren - His wife suffers from MS and he had been her full time carer for the last ten years with his Ipswich radio work being his time away from the caring when his kids watched his wife Maggie.

Rest in Peace Kevin - You really were some football player.