This summer marks the 30th anniversary of Sheffield United winning promotion from the old fourth division, going up as champions with 96 points. As an 11 year old boy, my hero was top goal scorer, Keith Edwards. By some genius stroke of luck, I happened to find out where Keith Edwards lived, and with a friend in tow for support, dared to go and knock on his door.
Armed with a souvenir promotion special we asked for his autograph.
Not only did Keith sign the posters, he invited my friend and I into his home and made us feel like we were special. A day that lives in my memory as though it was yesterday.
Now I have never met Keith Edwards again or spoken to him but I suggest the reason for his hospitality was simple. He knew that he was fortunate to be doing a job he loved, a job that he was very good at and that the rewards and admiration the game brought him belonged to the fans.
I don't know how often fans turned up at his door step, probably not very often but by making us welcome in his home he was giving something back to the fans, to the club, and to the game.
As I said, that was thirty years ago. Today, Sheffield United football club lost at Wembley stadium in the League 1 play off final - due mainly to having no striker. The decline of United has a morale parallel. This seasons leading goal scorer is currently in jail, convicted of rape. The clubs most experienced striker was suspended today.
Has the game changed or has the world changed? Keith Edwards, who scored more than 250 league goals, who after retiring from football now works for BBC radio Sheffield as a match commentator, treat my friend and me as though we were the stars. Even his wife seemed pleased to see us. Respect.
Today's footballers who earn millions of pounds in their career seem to think that they can do anything they want because they are footballers and are entitled to it. More and more players are in the news for entirely the wrong reasons, whether it be for rape, drunken thugishness, twittering or sleeping with their brothers wife- it seems that there is no level to which they will not stoop..
Michael Owen, a once great striker but one who sadly hasn't had a decent season for most of the last decade, was this week released by Manchester United. Rather than acknowledging the wonderful life football had given him he arrogantly stated that he is too good for the championship and wont consider it.
In the fourth division winning Sheffield United side were former top players, who were happy to drop down the leagues just to keep playing the game they loved, and give the fans of smaller teams something to appreciate. Many of them lighting up the lower division. How times have changed.
I shudder to think what would happen to two eleven year old children turning up at a footballers house today.
While ten a penny millionaire mega stars fade into deluded oblivion at the end of their career if not during it, the real heroes live on in people like me and my boyhood friend forever.
Keith Edwards, I salute thee.
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