Thought For The Day – Wednesday 22nd January 2025
The Lawman
Very moving tributes have been paid to the iconic Scottish footballer, Denis Law C.B.E., who passed away, aged 84, on 17th January 2025.
Denis was always proud of his Scottish roots and heritage.
Growing up in Aberdeen, Denis, and his family, had many challenges, like so many in post-war Britain. In a 2011 interview, Denis said he was given his first shoes (second-hand) when he was nine. Before, like so many in that era, Denis walked to school barefoot. Shoes then were, like so many other things we take for granted today, a luxury. Everyone was in the same boat.
Denis enjoyed school, particularly Geography, Mathematics and what we know today as Design Technology.
And football. In leisure time, said Denis, there was nothing else to do but play football. “Unknown to yourself, you were learning your skills”, said Denis in 2011. Denis was given his first football boots, second hand, aged sixteen. He played football in the street, often with just a ball of wool. Growing up, owing to sight problems, Denis played with one eye closed.
But where there is a will, there is very often way. Greatness transcends circumstance.
On and off the pitch, Denis Law was inspirational, humble, good humoured, charismatic and resilient. A characterful individual and team player. He played under two of the greatest managers and people, in sport and in life, Bill Shankly, at Huddersfield Town, and Sir Matt Busby, at Manchester United. He played in an era where footballers in the U.K. were paid £20 a week. Denis also played in Italy, further expanding his horizons.
A great goal scorer, and a scorer of great goals, Denis was never selfish. The team came first. It was said that if there was another player with a better opportunity to score a goal, Denis always passed the football. He was the ultimate “number 10”, admired by the great Pelé of Brazil.
As Manchester United rebuilt after the Munich air disaster of 1958, that killed 8 players and 23 people in total, Denis, who was nicknamed by supporters, not himself, “The King” and “The Lawman”, became a key leader and catalyst. He was part of “The United Trinity” with Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best.
And, when he was, after injury, disappointed to be released by Manchester United, and scored the goal, a very skilled backheel, for Manchester City, whom he had re-signed for, that would be the final goal in the final match in the relegation season of his former team, United, there were no celebrations. Denis immediately asked to be substituted. Emotional, professional, thoughtful, respectful. Integrity.
Denis Law was loved by all.
In later life, Denis Law continued to be a charismatic, passionate and wise communicator, with an ever infectious laugh and smile. Denis did much charity work for over thirty years. Denis was treated for, and recovered from, prostrate cancer. In 2016, he was appointed a C.B.E. for services to football and charity.
Denis was married to his wife, Diana, for over sixty years. They met in an Aberdeenshire dance hall.
In his last three years, Denis raised awareness of dementia, which he was diagnosed with in 2021.
There are three statues of Denis Law. Two in Manchester and one in Aberdeen.
Like those who we have loved in our lives, and still, the ultimate legacy is in the heart, the love and the soul.
