Kevin Beattie
Footballer
BORN DECEMBER 18, 1953 DIED SEPTEMBER 16, 2018, AGED 64
VOTED as Ipswich Town’s best ever player, Kevin Beattie was also described by manager Bobby Robson as the most gifted England player of his generation.
Born in Carlisle, Cumbria, Beattie was one of nine children living on the breadline. He later recalled that there were occasions when there was no food to eat for days on end unless his father, a heavy drinker, had won at dominoes.
Beattie enrolled at St Cuthbert’s high school but was a known truant, sometimes failing to attend school because he had no shoes. It was his teacher who bought him his first pair of football boots.
At the age of 15, Beattie was invited for a trial by Liverpool but took the first train home when no one turned up to collect him from Lime Street Station.
Years later, football manager Bill Shankly admitted that not signing Beattie was one of his biggest mistakes.
Quick to snap up Liverpool’s missed opportunity, Ipswich Town signed Beattie and by 1971 he had turned professional. The following year the 18-year-old made his debut in a victory against Manchester United.
Playing with the likes of Mick Mills and Paul Mariner, the central defender forged a formidable partnership with Allan Hunter. In 1975 he made his debut for England and went on to earn nine caps.
Over the course of the next four years, Beattie’s injuries became increasingly serious and he was missing more games than he played.
He retired in 1981 at the age of 28. The abrupt end to his career hit him hard and he turned to drink.
In 2012 Beattie was convicted of benefit fraud for not declaring his radio commentary work.
He died of a heart attack and is survived by his wife Maggie and his three daughters.