The world of football was once more thrust into mourning as the news filtered through the wires and news services that Gary Ablett had lost his fight against cancer. The 46 year old former Liverpool, Everton and Birmingham footballer had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lympoma 16 months ago.

Gary Ablett was one of handful of footballers to cross the divide of Liverpool and remain popular with both sets of fans. Starting his career with Liverpool he went onto become a lynch pin of a side that would go onto win the F.A. Cup in 1989 and more importantly was one of the public figures alongside Kenny Dalglish who bore a very public presence at the funerals of those who needlessly lost their lives at Hillsborough against Nottingham Forest.

Born in Liverpool in 1965, Gary spent three years playing for the Liverpool youth side and then was a pivotal player in the team winning the league in 1988 and 1990.

Despite the fact that he was a genuinely superb player and gave everything to the club, he was sold to Everton in 1992 where he would go on to become the only player in history to win the F.A. Cup competition with both Merseyside clubs.

With a few loan spells down the divisions including Sheffield United, he was sold again after the F.A Cup win to Birmingham City where he played over 120 games.

Ex-team mate Ian Rush paid tribute to Gary,

“Gary was a really versatile player, somebody who would play anywhere the manager asked him,” Rush told BBC Sport. The fact he played for both Liverpool and Everton says something about how good he was as a player. “He summed up what Liverpool people are all about. He gave 100% to the team and my favourite memory of him was after the 1989 FA Cup final – he was so proud to win something for the team. Off the pitch, he was the perfect gentleman. He had a lovely family, which he brought up really well, and he was such a respectable person. If he could help you with anything, he would.”

After his playing career finished he moved into coaching where ironically he made the reverse journey from Everton to Liverpool. Perhaps his most difficult phase was as manager of Stockport County. In an era where the Greater Manchester side was in terminal decline, he more than showed he was capable of being a manager at a bigger side and with more resources available to him could have gone onto bigger and better things.

The League Managers’ Association also recognised the former Stockport boss.

“Respected throughout the game by players, coaches and managers alike, Gary will be sadly missed,” an LMA statement said.

A great player of the game and will be much missed by fans of the clubs he played for.

Ian D. Hall