Gary Ablett RIP

[the count]

R.I.P.

 

[SummerOnions]

Sad news, he was a great guy.

R.I.P

 

[Avmenon]

Rest in peace, Gary.

No more suffering for you.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Shocked to be honest, didnt even know he was ill. Too early to go for such a good man YNWA Gary

 

[King Binny]

@XabiAlonso Xabi Alonso
RIP Gary Ablett. Top guy, he will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family.

@Craigfagan7 Craig Fagan
RIP Gary Ablett had the pleasure of training with him at Birmingham City was good to me! true gent thoughts with his family and friends.

"He attended 11 funerals in two weeks after Hillsborough,obviously a good man and a great player! Another big loss to fball"

Chris Bascombe article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/everton/8987963/Merseyside-united-in-grief-as-football-mourns-another-true-gent-in-Gary-Ablett-who-has-died-aged-46.html

It takes a rare talent to cross the divide between Liverpool and Everton and retain the unqualified respect of both clubs. Ablett did so twice during the course of his career. As a player, when he left Anfield for Goodison in 1991, and then by making the reverse journey when former manager Rafa Benitez lured him to his Liverpool coaching staff in 2006.

Such was his affable nature, there were no grudges and there was never any acrimony when he made those usually controversial switches. Indeed, on each occasion he crossed Stanley Park with goodwill of the rival fans resonating, such as the respect and regard in which he was held. But it also demonstrated the bravery of a man who faced up to his serious illness with the same strength of character.

Just a matter of months ago, despite the gravity of the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis, he was back at Melwood taking notes as he watched Liverpool’s training sessions after an open invitation to return from Kenny Dalglish.

During Dalglish’s first spell, Ablett flourished. He was a key member of the side many consider the finest in the club’s history, the 1987-88 championship team, and also won the FA Cup in 1989 and helped Dalglish to the club’s last title success in 1990.

When Dalglish left and Graeme Souness embarked on his vast changes to the squad, Ablett was sacrificed and moved to Everton, where he arguably played his best football as a more mature, confident defender.

He won the FA Cup under Joe Royle in 1995, becoming the first player to win the competition for both Merseyside clubs.

When Liverpool manager Benitez sought a new reserve coach in 2006, Ablett was considered a surprise choice but his thoroughness during an intensive interview earned him the job.

Detailed dossiers and a presentation revealing an intensive knowledge of the game, training regimes and meticulous planning chimed with the Liverpool boss, allowing Ablett to switch Merseyside loyalties for the second time.

In his first season, he won the Reserve title at Anfield, but it was inevitable he would seek to become a manager in his own right eventually and he left Liverpool in 2009, later accepting a post at Stockport County.

This again underlined his mental toughness given the North West club was in administration for the whole of his reign. When he left, Roy Keane appointed him to his coaching staff at Ipswich, but shortly after, in 2010, the illness brought him career to an end.

The final poignant but enduring memory those who knew Ablett at Anfield will cherish is when he was back alongside Dalglish at Melwood in 2011, planning for the future as he watched the manager and his coaching team put their squad through their paces.

Ablett was determined to return to game and revive his management career. There is grief at Liverpool and Everton a man who had so much more to contribute, and who would have almost certainly have returned to one or both clubs in the future, has had his life so cruelly cut short.

 

[Asbo]

2 League Titles and an FA Cup in 147 Liverpool games!

The only man to win the FA Cup with both Liverpool and Everton.

46 is no age to die, but by God he packed some good stuff into that short life of his......

 

[King Binny]

David Moyes has paid his tribute to the late Gary Ablett.

Ablett passed away last night following a battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He was hugely respected as a player and coach with the Blues and hundreds of tributes have been made.

"It is so, so sad about Gary," Moyes said on Monday morning.

"He was a regular visitor here to Finch Farm over the last six months and he was a lovely man, well liked by everyone.

"My thoughts are with all his family at this terrible time."

Much of Ablett's time at Everton's academy was spent working closely with Neil Dewsnip and the coach told evertonfc.com that the mood at Finch Farm was ‘subdued' after the news broke.

"He was a fantastic person, in the sense of being incredibly hard-working and incredibly positive at all times," said Dewsnip.

"He was a credit to himself and his family and to our football club during the time he worked with us.

"He had a big impact into the development of some of the young players while he was with us.

"It is a very subdued place this morning, that is for sure, It's our first day back and the normal routine would be wishing everyone a happy new year, so it's obviously very difficult this morning."

Pat Nevin played briefly with Ablett and more frequently against him and said: "Gary was a lovely, lovely guy who was liked by everyone. I don't think anyone will have a bad word to say about him.

"He was a classy defender and had decent quality going forward as well and he was not dirty in any way. But because of his understated way he was maybe under-rated by many people.

"It says something that I enjoyed playing against him even in the Merseyside derby, which is one of the most stressful games in world football, because he was just such a nice guy. I'm shocked and saddened."

Ablett's former teammate Joe Parkinson said: "Tragic news about Gary. Gutted. Our thoughts are with his family, RIP."

Labour MP and Evertonian Andy Burnham: "So sad to hear about Gary Ablett. Achieved rare feat of playing for, and being loved by, both clubs. A measure of the man he was. RIP."

Veteran ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley: "Another of the really good guys tragically gone. Gary Ablett - one of football's gentle men. So sad."

Everton youngsters James Wallace and Adam Forshaw have worked with Ablett and both offered their thoughts via Twitter.

Wallace said: "R.I.P Gary was a pleasure to have worked with you. True gentlemen and top man, thoughts go to you and your family at this tough time."

And Forshaw Tweeted: "Terrible news. Rest in peace Gary. A brilliant footballer and a great man to know. Thoughts are with you and your family."

Ex-Liverpool and England man Michael Owen added: "So sad to hear the news that Gary Ablett has passed away today aged 46. He played for some great clubs and had a career to be proud of. RIP."

 

[King Binny]

Ipswich have announced a minute's applause will be observed before their npower Championship match against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Monday after former coach Gary Ablett died following a long battle against cancer.

Ablett, who won the FA Cup with Liverpool and Everton, lost his 16-month fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on Sunday night, the League Managers Association said on Monday.

Ablett took up a coaching role with Ipswich in July 2010 but was taken ill while at the club's training ground and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Town players will wear black armbands for the visit of Forest and observe a minute's applause.

"It's desperately sad news," Town chief executive Simon Clegg told itfc.co.uk.

"I stayed in touch with Gary as he battled his illness over 18 months, which he did with bravery and dignity and our thoughts go out to his wife Jacqueline and their children at this very difficult time."

 

[The Slugmonster]

RIP Gary YNWA

 

[mark1975]

RIP Gary, shocking news

 

[HC]

Way too soon.

Thoughts with his family. RIP

 

[Jürgen4PM]

RIP Gary

 

[refugee]

RIP

 

[Insignificance]

RIP. Very sad news

 

[Buddha]

Tragic news. RIP Gary.

 

[Piedro]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=48113.msg1453994#msg1453994 date=1325504886]
Had lectures with his son last year.

Very sad. RIP.
[/quote]

I went to school with his daughter Jodie.

Very sad.

RIP Gary

 

[Sunny]

Very very sad news this. RIP Gary.

 

[Whaddapie]

Met him briefly a few years back...

Thoroughly decent bloke, made time to talk to everybody around, and always seemed genuinely interested in chatting as opposed to simply going through the motions - Seemed very genuine and just a very nice man.

RIP Gary - YNWA to his wife and kids.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

RIP

Thoughts with his family.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

RIP Gary Ablett.

 

[cobrastatus]

I don't know if this is the right word, but this just makes me sick, I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, 46 years old, fucking hell. Just sickening that he went this way at that age. My heart truly goes out to him and his loved ones.

 

[Pesam]

Awful news. RIP Gary.

 

[King Binny]

 

[King Binny]

http://www.rafabenitez.com/web/index.php?act=mostrarContenidos&idioma=in&co=1317

Yesterday was a very sad day for everyone who knew Gary Ablett. When I first interviewed him for the post of Reserve Team Coach, I could tell from a report that he had written that he was a dedicated, hard-working professional, and that he loved his work helping young lads to improve. But what struck me most was his character - you could see straightaway that he was a good human being.

His attitude towards what we were trying to achieve on a day to day basis was always excellent, and when he was with the players, Reserves as well as First Team players at Liverpool, he was always willing to listen, with a positive approach to help them to get better.

Together with my staff I would like to send our condolences to all his family and friends. Rest in Peace.