Ray Kennedy, a legendary figure with Liverpool and England, has died aged 70 after a valiant 35-year fight against Parkinson's disease.
Ray, born at New Hartley where he moved back to live after his stellar playing career, was a key figure in the Reds team that dominated both English and European football in the seventies.
Having won the league and cup double as a young player with Arsenal he went on to make 393 appearances and score 72 goals at Liverpool winning five league championships, three European Cups, one League Cup, a UEFA Cup and a European Super Cup during a seven-and-a-half-year stay.
That haul made him one of the most decorated players in history.
Kennedy's arrival from Arsenal in July 1974 was overshadowed by the news that legendary manager Bill Shankly who had negotiated his transfer announced his departure from Anfield on the same day.
Shanks' last game in charge had been Liverpool's comprehensive FA Cup final victory over Newcastle at Wembley.
While initially brought in as a centre-forward Ray was transformed into a left-sided midfielder by Shankly's successor Bob Paisley, another North East legend. It brought him 20 England caps.
Two of his most heralded Liverpool goals inevitably came in the European Cup - the second in a memorable 3-1 quarter-final victory over St Etienne in 1977 and a crucial strike at Bayern Munich to win the 1981 semi-final on away goals.
Ray was a cherished friend of mine. I ghosted his column in the Chronicle for several years and kept in touch after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in November of 1986, a crushing blow to a man so full of life and fun.
However he fought on with defiance and much bravery living in a home converted to meet his considerable needs.
Originally a highly successful young striker with New Hartley Juniors, Ray was infamously turned down by Sir Stanley Matthews who was manager of Port Vale at the time before Arsenal snapped him up.
He later moved to Swansea City, Hartlepool and Cypriot club Pezoporikos.
