I am running an article from a couple of years back that originally featured in the Liverpool fanzine ‘Through The Wind And Rain’. It has an obvious emphasis on Ray Kennedy’s days at Liverpool, but I make no apology for that as, frankly, it’s provides a reason for the much more important opportunity it gives me to plug this item on ebay

Before running the article, here are some excerpts from an email sent to me about Ray Kennedy today. It’s from Gooner Ewen Cook:

I work with a Liverpool fan named Karl Coppack who writes for TTWAR. Karl is aiming to launch a collection fund appeal for Ray Kennedy, who is very ill with Parkinson’s, and has had to resort to selling some of his medals to stay afloat. Ray is, incomprehensibly, one of the forgotten greats, who although had a joint AFC/LFC testimonial thing a few years back, is in need of much-deserved help. Karl wrote the attached piece for TTWAR in 2005. It's excellent, and very moving. In the ensuing two years, Ray's condition has worsened, and he's had to start selling medals etc. Karl's plan is for a publicity push for a donation/collection fund for Ray, taking the form of some interviews with current and ex-players and an online campaign - rather than a testimonial or anything. A cheque will then be taken to Ray. Simple. (Ray is unable to leave his house easily, so simplicity is essential).

The state of play is this: Dr Andrew Lees, who wrote Ray's biography, has offered to help provide all necessary info on Ray and on the medical stuff etc. Brian Hall, the official ex-players bloke at Liverpool, and Rick Parry, are being/have been contacted. Sammy Nelson and various other ex-players are on board. Karl's fanzine and the major LFC forums etc are right behind it – the general consensus being "just tell me where I can send my money." On the Arsenal side, Karl is in touch with Alex Sefton (head of the Arsenal in the Community department)

I subsequently got in touch with the writer of the piece below, the aforementioned Karl Coppack, and he told me that I'd like the event(s) to coincide with our (i.e. Liverpool’s) annual gubbing at the Emirates in April. So there are a lot of people on board, both from the two clubs, past and present as well as fans. And I will just say this. Ray Kennedy had a testimonial match in 1991. It’s sixteen years on now. The money from that match undoubtedly helped a lot, but over the course of time, as Ray’s disease has taken an even greater hold, it’s been used. If he’s down to the stage of selling medals, then it’s fair to say he soon won’t have enough to cover the cost of the help he requires to give him a life worth living under the circumstances. Footballers from Kennedy’s generation were not paid the type of sums that today’s professionals enjoy. So for those that have a problem with helping the man out, please respect his condition and simply keep your own counsel rather than criticise this initiative. And for those that do wish to help out, once the campaign is up and running, we’ll publicise the details of the various ways you can offer support. In the meantime, if you fancy the signed ‘Unbeatables’ season shirt, put in a bid. Here’s the article by Karl Coppack. It was written in 2005 for a Liverpool supporting readership, but I make no apology for posting it here as it gives details of Ray’s condition, which is worse today…

ANOTHER GREAT NUMBER FIVE

Who is your favourite Red? Most of us will point at Dalglish when asked this, and I wouldn’t blame you, but who would you have as your top three? The usual suspects include Souness (the man who, if he busts his pipes every day for next ten years, Gerrard could become), Hansen, Rush, Emlyn, Clem or Keegan. Well, my favourite all time Red is Ray Kennedy.

I never saw him play much in the flesh thanks to my age and my Dad supporting the wrong team but as an avid viewer of Match of the Day, Kick Off and The Big Match I always admired his modest approach and enormous ability. He’s a member of Anfield’s greatest midfield, Kennedy – Case – Souness – McDermott, and our greatest ever side (78-79). You want proof? Let’s look at the stats. P 42 W 30 D 8 L 4 F85 A 16. Twenty eight clean sheets and the greatest goal ever scored at Anfield (The seventh against Tottenham). Match that, Chelsea. Oh, and play like that team did too. Of the eighty five goals scored the midfield weighed in with Kennedy 10, Case 7, Souness 8, and McDermott 7. Not bad, eh?

Ray signed on the day that Shankly resigned. This was way before my time but that’s a nice bit of pressure to live with, especially for a man whose confidence was already shot to pieces after his spell at Arsenal. He’s generally regarded by good Arsenal fans and Nick Hornby alike as a true Arsenal great so he was mystified when the Gunners let him go. Mind you, at the time his signing confused a few Reds too. He was a good forward but was prone to bouts of inactivity and carried a bit too much weight. Even when the fans took to him he was still a little under-rated. He never broke the Keegan -Toshack big man/little man partnership.

You don’t need me to tell you that it was a canny piece of wisdom from Paisley to switch him to left wing and swap his number ten shirt to a number five. Several have tried a similar move but not many have got it right. Remember the Southampton 0-0 game a few years ago when Houllier tried Heskey and Camara on the wing with Owen and Fowler up front? There are loads of poor decisions like that. McAteer at left back, Gerrard at right back, Leonhardsen on the pitch etc but moving Ray to midfield was one of the true moments of inspiration.

Gradually, Ray lost his weight and started to show a bit of confidence but his demeanour was still that of a shy lad. Always happier at home in the North East the unassuming Geordie was never a man to be a joker like Terry Mac or as extravagant as Souness. If anything he usually looked embarrassed at his ability. Look at his celebration of the goal against Spurs in 78. A clap of the hands and a smile. When Keegan went down fro the penalty in Rome he merely applauded the referee – not exactly the same as Crazy Horse. I love that in a player. See also Benitez’s celebration of Alonso’s goal against Arsenal. We’re just doing our job out here.

Once he was established in midfield the trophies began to flood in. His ability to push up reaped dividends as he later proved in Munich. He also scored some absolute beauties. His calm finish against Derby and the last goal to clinch the title against Wolves in 1976 stand as testament to that. Then came the 79 side. The club version of Brazil 1970.

He left not long after the 81 European Cup after being uncharacteristically sent off twice in a short time. Ordinarily his temperament was one of his outstanding traits. After all, he’d been kicked from pillar to post in his Arsenal days but just got on with the game. This was one of the reasons that he was one of my heroes. His ability never went to his head. There was absolutely no ego to him. How many players these days can’t wait for the summer so they can go home to their hometown to see their family?

Gradually he became aware that there was something wrong that he couldn’t put his finger on. Bob Paisley had noticed his slow starts and had asked him to “start with the rest of the team” and Ray was aware that he was suddenly absolutely exhausted after training or a match. Finally, after a heart to heart with the manager they agreed it was time for him to move on. He was bought for £200,000, won five League titles, three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, one League Cup and one Super Cup and was then sold for £160,000. Not a bad return for man once perceived as an overweight lazy forward.

He moved to Swansea to re-join Tosh. The move never worked out due to some haphazard arrangements within the club that didn’t sit well with Ray’s ordered methodical approach. Tosh disciplined him on more than one occasion after erroneously judging his slow starts as lack of heart or even laziness. It was also around this time that he noted a stiffness in his right leg.

Brief spells at Hartlepool and Cyprus followed and were equally unsuccessful. The Cypriot manager noticed that he would run with his right arm at his side but mistook it for a curious running approach. The physio also noticed that he would sweat profusely whether training or not and that his right thigh muscle would tense up and go into spasm. On his return home he visited a doctor and was told in November 1984 that he had Parkinson’s disease. A cruel affliction for anyone to contract but doubly so for an athlete. So, not only did Ray Kennedy win all those medals, he did it with the disease. He’d had an incident as long ago as his Arsenal days when he inexplicably couldn’t fasten up the buttons of his shirt. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease so he’d played through his career with this condition.

It’s always bothered me that since the book and video Ray of Hope there hasn’t been much coverage on him. I therefore emailed Dr Andrew Lees, now a Professor at University College London and the author of the book. He has remained Ray’s doctor and friend since their first meeting. I asked if he could tell me how Ray is now. He was kind enough to reply, stating that he couldn’t tell me about his condition due to the doctor/patient privilege but could tell me that he was still fighting the illness. Twenty minutes later he sent me another email saying that Ray would be happy to accept a phone call from me.

It’s not every day you prepare yourself to speak to one of your heroes so I was useless for the rest of the day. I phoned him, not knowing what to expect. Ray now lives alone in a bungalow in his native North East, not far from where he played his youth football for New Hartley Juniors. His mobility is restricted now as is his speech. “You must tell me if you can’t make out what I’m saying,” he told me. Our conversation was a little difficult as he has on and off days. He also uses a speakerphone so his voice drifts in and out.

I asked him about his time at Anfield and the fact that he wasn’t always admired before the glory came. “I was more a consistent player. Dependable. I never celebrated my goals that much. Just an arm in the air.” I put it to him that he was more of European player. “Aye, more of a semi final player too. I always did well in semis. Bob Paisley always said he had more offers for me than any one else. He was a good man was Bob.” It seems that his patience and temperament were wanted on the continent too.

Ray can’t make it to games any more but he made it to the Liverpool – Newcastle game on the end of last season. “I got to that. It was a good game, a good battle. It took me hours to get home though. I was worn out.”