It was great to see and hear the vigour of one of football's gentlemen - Lawrie McMenemy a couple of days ago. In his own inimitable style mixing humour with self depreciation, he spoke with real passion as he launched the Football Research Centre set up in his name at Southampton Solent University.

Whilst recognizing the scale and challenges presented by the football industry and the need for professional training for those involved in football club administration, Lawrie McMenemy also paid tribute to the era in which the desire for instant success by football club chairman enabled him and his north eastern contemporaries Sir Bobby Robson (Ipswich) and Brian Clough (Nottingham Forest) achieve success through ethos and player development as opposed to raiding the transfer market in the hope of securing immediate glory.

It would be good to see and hear more of Lawrie as he still has much to give not just to football, but other sports and The Special Olympics a cause which is particularly close to his heart.