Kevin Beattie RIP

[piston broke]

Announced that Kevin Beattie has passed, aged 64.
One of my favourite ever non-Clarets. What a career he would have had but for horrendous injuries.

[lrac]

Rip
Kevin x

[mkmel]

Excellent defender
RIP Kevin

[Dark Cloud]

Excellent player in his day.

[Buxtonclaret]

Awful news.
A cracking player.

R.I.P

[Stayingup]

Big and strong. Excellent player born in Carlisle.

[Silkyskills1]

Always reminded me of Spurs wing-half,Dave Mackay from the 1960's. Tough-tackling, no nonsense type of player. Went to Wembley in 1975 when he played in England's demolition of Scotland,5-1. Some top players in that side including Kevin Keegan, Gerry Francis. I think he might have scored England's second goal that day. Top player when fit.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Sad to read this news. He was a cracking player who Bobby Robson rated extremely highly, sadly he would probably not have fit into the modern, let's get rid of contact game. RIP Kevin, gone far too early but thanks for some great memories.

[Joeandy1920]

RIP Kevin
What a great player he was!
Condolences to all family and friends.

[tiger76]

RIP Kevin 64 is no age these days.

[Clarets4me]

Always reminded me of Spurs wing-half,Dave Mackay from the 1960's. Tough-tackling, no nonsense type of player. Went to Wembley in 1975 when he played in England's demolition of Scotland,5-1. Some top players in that side including Kevin Keegan, Gerry Francis. I think he might have scored England's second goal that day. Top player when fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRr6utja1Hc

The Scots travelled down in their thousands with a decent Scottish team ( Jardine,McGrain,Rioch,Dalglish etc ) as favorites, but Rangers keeper Stewart Kennedy " threw one in " in classic Scottish Goalkeeper fashion ..... I was only 11 but remember my Dad laughing his head off !!

[ashtonlongsider]

One of the best Defenders this country has produced. RIP Kevin.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Brilliant player in his day, very sad news. RIP.

[Culmclaret]

A real character. Tipped up at Portman Rd with his boots and asked for a trial. Immense player in a good Ipswich side although his career was effectively over before their best spell under Robson.

[ecc]

Fearless defender. The injuries were never-ending. A real "old school" professional.

RIP

[Claretlad]

Now he was a good un...

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Only realised when I saw an old programme that I saw him make his debut for Ipswich at Old Trafford

[Silkyskills1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRr6utja1Hc

The Scots travelled down in their thousands with a decent Scottish team ( Jardine,McGrain,Rioch,Dalglish etc ) as favorites, but Rangers keeper Stewart Kennedy " threw one in " in classic Scottish Goalkeeper fashion ..... I was only 11 but remember my Dad laughing his head off !!

I went to the 1973 and 1975 games and Scottish fans were all around the stadium. Vastly different laws then regarding alcohol in the ground. We were stood behind the goal England were defending in the first half and right next to us the seating area began where a number of Scots set up their own mini bar with a variety of bottles of shorts, glasses and packs of canned lager. Didn't see too much trouble considering the numbers but an awful lot of extremely drunk people propped up against walls or just laid out on pavements.

[ClaretTony]

Picked up this news on the way back from Wolves but having kept away from the message board last night I've only just picked up this thread.

Fantastic defender for Ipswich and I was surprised to see that he only won nine England caps. But he had a career blighted by injuries. So sad, and just 64. Another great talent gone.

[ClaretLoup]

I lived in Ipswich for a while and Beattie was what you might call a bit of a character who liked a drink or two. So much so that the money raised from his Testamonial year did not last too long and allegedly the Ipswich Dockers Social Club had a couple of his cheques framed and hung in their club room.

Mick Mills was assigned to keep an eye on him on their European away legs but he gave him the slip one night turned up later well bladdered but apparently still played a blinder the next day.

He was quite a diminutive guy 5' 10"" at the most but I'very rarely seen anyone as dominant in the air as his timing and leap were exceptional.

Robson described Hunter and Beattie as bacon and eggs & as a pairing few got the better of them.

[Culmclaret]

As well as his football injuries he had a few other mishaps including a firework going off in his face and managing to get serious burns from a chip pan accident....