Ray was a real hero off pitch
RAY KENNEDY’S greatest feat was not soaring into the north London night to head the goal that won the title for Arsenal on enemy territory 50 years ago.
Nor was it his five League titles and three European Cups with Liverpool.
His finest achievement was to spend half his life as a prisoner of Parkinson’s disease, the insidious condition which probably curtailed his playing career.
Kennedy’s death yesterday, at the age of 70, extinguishes another star in one of English football’s brightest constellations.
The early promise of the coal miner’s son from Northumberland, brought Sir Stanley Matthews – then manager of Port Vale – to the family home to sign him on schoolboy forms.
He didn’t break through in the Potteries, but after returning home to work in a sweet factory, Arsenal came calling.
Within three years, Kennedy had delivered the sweetest victory of all, heading the winner at Tottenham to seal the title five days before Bertie Mee’s side completed the Double against Liverpool in the FA Cup Final.
He was sold to Liverpool for just £200,000 where he won every conceivable club honour, including 17 caps for England and European Cup in 1977, 1978 and 1981.
But if conquering Europe was one of his finest hours, Kennedy’s greatest battle only started when he hung up his boots.
Parkinson’s UK chief executive Caroline Rassell said: “The part Ray played in raising awareness of the condition, like his football skills, will not be forgotten.”
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge said: “What a player and lovely bloke who suffered so much. He’ll definitely never walk alone.”