Denis Law dies, Age 84

RIP Dennis Law.

Another legend gone. RiP The Lawman

I met Denis a few times. A great footballer and a real gent.

I also had the pleasure of seeing him play at Goodison alongside Charlton, Best and Co.

Yes, nice fella, Colin.

He was an acquaintance of my father-in-law over here in Huddersfield. Very unassuming.

The first "soccer" book I ever read as a high schooler had a fantastic cover photo of Denis Law twisting in the air to volley a shot at goal.

I have never forgotten that image. I only wish I'd seen him play.

Echo above comments about Dennis Law. I met him briefly in the late 90s, and he was very happy to talk. A lovely man and a real legend of football.

In my dad's few last days we spoke about the greats, he said Ball, Bell, Law.and of course Bobby Charlton.

Mike,

I only just heard about the demise of one of my favourite footballers, Denis Law, what a player in every part of the field.

Everton came in for him as a young player with Huddersfield Town but he went Man City. I loved the way he fought for every ball then the class and style he had when he got it, the goals he scored and assisted in.

Denis was an extrovert on the field with the ball and without it, arguing the toss with anyone including referees but quiet and reserved off it.

Mike, I’d love to see that photo of Dennis scoring that volley while twisting in the air — he scored one like that v Everton at Old Trafford in a night game, I don’t think it was on TV but I was at the game.

With Man Utd 2-0 up near the end of the game, David Herd their striker with a terrific shot in him, hit one across the gaol, not sure if it was a shot or a centre, but it went right across the goal. Gordon West just left it, looked like it was going behind for a goal kick, when Denis flew through the air and volleyed it home, absolutely astonishing and amazing, you just had to admit what a great goal it was even if it meant us losing 3-0.

Denis Law was a player and a half… no, cancel that; make it a player and seven eighths!

RIP Denis Law, wonderful player.

Oh, to have someone like him upfront for Everton.

RIP Denis Law.

Fabulous player and total gentleman.

Totally agree, and add my sadness to Denis Law's passing!

A great player and in his day, a radio commentator, he was the business.

His equivalent today… there is none.

The game is poorer for his passing.

RIP Denis Law!

A real footballer and supporter!

About 6 years ago, I was doing a job in Knutsford and standing in King St reet so that there was a handy space for our engineer's van.

A woman driving parked behind me and out stepped a man with dark sunglasses on. I said to him "It's the Lawman, the Legend." He denied it and we laughed, then he said he was a Leg End.

I said ,"Wait till I tell my dad later I've been talking to Denis Law" and he said "Who's his team?"

I said "Everton", and he was very complimentary about the Everton teams he played against and the club.

With that he said his goodbye and moved on but he was polite, modest, and a class act that day.

Dave A, you might find it somewhere in here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udxb-mTj054

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTBMmd7mqc4

RIP Denis.

(It's n x1 isn't it?)

And Dave, I've been trying to give you this link for a few days now. I think you'll enjoy it. 14 October 1967. I thought of you when I watched it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8L0mTjBi5o

Rest in peace, The Lawman. What a player, how fortunate we were to be able to watch the likes of Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best play against Kendall, Harvey and Ball. They were all, truly, great.

I think Denis had been injured and was rushed back to play against us in the 1966 FA Cup semi-final at Burnden Park. That was very fortunate for us.

First match my dad took me (my second, having been taken to my first by an uncle) was v Man Utd.

Even tho' my dad wasn't really a football fan, he wanted to see Best, Charlton and Denis Law. Such was their pulling power and reputation.

Forgot to say, funny thing was... both Charlton and Law were out injured!

Probably first time I heard my dad swear.... we won 3-0 and I was well and truly hooked.

Dave, the book was called The Encyclopedia of World Soccer or some such. If I only still had it. I've looked for the photo today in several online databases but couldn't find it.

I remember being struck by the cragginess of his face and the muscularity of his legs, and the fact that he'd apparently just volleyed a shot with his left foot.

I only remember him as a pundit, but I do recall the respect he was held in.

And that moment where his instinct kicked in, he backheeled it, goal, and sent Man Utd down, and you could see the regret. You know if he'd have thought about it, he never would have done it.

To be fair, the Lawman's back heel didn't send Man Utd down. Other results meant that they were down anyway. Sorry to be picky.

He was one of the greatest ever, it is difficult to imagine how good he was when he was given little protection then against the extreme violence meted out by defenders.

My age means that I saw Law, Best and Charlton against Everton many times. We were both amazing teams but how we have fallen? It seems just impossible.

Loved the Lawman, one of my all time favourite players.

I was at his 2nd game for Man Utd, an evening game at Goodison. No Best or Charlton in the Man Utd team that night but a crowd of a few hundred short of 70000!

We won 3-1 with another Scottish legend, Alex Young scoring twice. RIP Denis, thanks for the memories.

Colin @3 what was it like watching George Best?

I seem to recall a story about Harry Catterick wanting to bring the teenage Law from Huddersfield to Everton but their manager, possibly the the Lord Chief Travesty of Justice himself, wanted Bobby Collins in exchange.

As they use to say, "All the Georgie Best and look out for the Dennis Law".

A pleasure to watch, Andrew.

Best was like a downhill slalom skier. Law glided over the pitch, just like our own Golden Vision. Charlton was all power and skill. They were great to watch and admire.

Mike [17]

Is this the picture?

Denis Law Volley

Colin, I went to a rugby match in Belfast last night and you walk past George's childhood home which is right beside the ground.

I live in a town where he used to mooch about towards the end and I could never reconcile how this legend ended up the way he did. Such a sad demise to possibly the greatest genius to have ever graced the pitch.

The myth of Denis Law relegating his beloved Manchester United has out-lived him. The result of the match was irrelevant, although Law didn't know this at the time, of course.

A great player and a great character.

Andrew (#25); I think it was either former Man Utd manager Frank O'Farrell's daughter or widow who said that those regarded as heroes and those as villains in the press seemed totally the other way round in her experience.

There may have been a drinking culture in football in George Best's day but little was done to help him by those in the game – albeit that his problems continued long after his career finished – which he even joked about himself and eventually led to his death.

I had a recollection of Denis scoring six goals for Man City in
an FA Cup tie. The game was abandoned before the end so
the goals never counted. I checked this on Wikipedia and it
was true.

Also, when the game was replayed City lost 3-1!
Great player.

Anthony (28),

I think that cup tie was against Luton, and if I'm not mistaken, he scored the goal in the 3-1 loss!

Dave @29,

Fact is definitely stranger than fiction.