A great manager once said: "Football isn't a matter of life and death, its much more important than that."
Whether a serious comment or a clever piece of tongue-in-cheek wit, it has become one of the most infamous fallacies ever uttered in football history.
The talking points and controversies of the weekend's round of Premier League matches the dominated phone-ins and highlights shows of Saturday evening, but by the following morning, they had faded into insignificance, as the football world learned of the death of Wales Manager Gary Speed at the age of 42.
Speed's death has understandably sent the football world into a state of shock and universal mourning, with an array of players and managers from across the footballing landscape paying tribute to the former Welsh international midfielder, who enjoyed a storied career with Leeds United; Everton; Newcastle; Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United.
It is not right to discuss the circumstances of Speed's tragic passing out of respect to his family, but it is right that the game of football remember one of its most faithful servants in the right way.
Thankfully this is something that football as a sport, despite all its ills, knows how to do, floral tributes have been laid and books of condolence have been opened at the clubs where Speed plied his trade. At Newcastle United, the hierarchy are actively communicating with those who knew Speed best in order to decide how to properly remember him this Saturday when they welcome Chelsea to St James' Park.
The world of football can, at times, be a cold unforgiving place, but in times of tragedy it tends to rediscover its soul.
Indeed, this has proven to be the case yet again; Leeds; Everton: Newcastle; Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United stand together, united with the rest of the footballing world in mourning for their fallen friend.
Football isn't a matter of life and death, and it certainly isn't more important, but the one thing it can do, is unite diverse groups of people and give them the strength to carry on in even the darkest of times.
So this weekend, at grounds up and down the country, the world of football will stop to remember one of the sport's true nice guys. Perhaps the best tribute it can pay is to persevere, and play the game Gary loved so much with the passion and spirit that he did throughout his career.
When Sir Bobby Robson passed away Heaven gained a great manager, now it has its Captain.
Rest in peace Gary, don't forget your armband.
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