Alison Beech

Denis Law was a great player and an even greater man. He made football fans smile with his brilliance in front of goal. He made people he met smile with his wonderful warm character and keen sense of humour. And what a player, The King, The Lawman, what an absolute elite level striker. Only Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton scored more than Law’s 237 for Manchester United. His tally of 30 goals for Scotland is matched only by the legendary Sir Kenny Dalglish and Law did it in 55 appearances to Dalglish’s 102 (different positions of course). Fiercely patriotic and supremely competitive, Law said his favourite goal for Scotland was against England at Wembley in 1967. He was determined to bring the world champions back down to earth. He even backheeled the ball to Jim Baxter for that famous keepie-uppie. He's a Scotland great, a United great. He’s immortalised in the Holy Trinity statue with Charlton and George Best outside Old Trafford, and with a statue in Aberdeen. He was raised in an Aberdeen tenement, didn’t often have contact with his father who was out at sea as a fisherman, and played early on with spectacles until an operation at Huddersfield Town to correct a squint. From Huddersfield on, he scored goals wherever he went, Manchester City, Torino, United, and back to City where he scored that famous/infamous goal against United in a match that ended in their relegation. Law didn’t celebrate. He went straight down the tunnel at the final whistle. Respect. He was unique. Fingers curled over his shirt cuffs, shock of blonde hair, Law was charisma personified. He was a clinical finisher, slight of frame but tough mentally and physically. He was very capable of looking after himself in an era where the tackling was often brutal, where Norman “bite your legs” Hunter roamed. He received a six-week ban for his scrap with Arsenal’s Ian Ure. “He’s Scottish, I’m Scottish, he’s hit me, I’ve hit him – what’s the point (in sending us off?)” Law said at the time. It's difficult to put a price on greatness but Law would be worth £150m+ today. He was a British transfer record, won the Ballon d’Or in 1964, won the title with United in 65 and 67 and the European Cup in 68 (although he missed the final through injury). He won the hearts of fans for the way he played, for his humour and humility. He was brilliant on the radio, brimming with insight and sense of occasion, all delivered in a voice of richness and authority. Law was great company. I went to interview him at his golf club once and we talked about tea for the first few minutes. He was once asked by the BBC what made him smile most and he replied “family”. He was a family man, a football man, a good man. My thoughts with Law’s family - they’ve lost a very special man. So has football. RIP.