Greenwood Deserved More

Tributes to Ron Greenwood have poured in from many of the most distinguished figures in the game. They know what an outstanding coach he was and they realise that he was a man ahead of his time. He stood for honesty, integrity and irresistible attacking football and his contribution to the development of young talent at West Ham United established a template that will serve as a lasting memorial. Towards the end of his career, his time as England manager allowed him to spread his influence and his infectious enthusiasm to a wider audience and to affect the game on a much wider scale, enriching the understanding of countless players, coaches, managers and even members of the press – all of whom held him in the highest regard.

So on the weekend following his death you would expect the passing of a man of his stature to be marked by a minute’s silence, not just at Upton Park as it most certainly will be, not just at some clubs, but at every single ground in the country.

It wasn’t. Far too many clubs have been silent about staging a fitting tribute to Ron Greenwood. And that is an absolute bloody disgrace.