In 40 plus years of playing competitive football, I've only been sent off once. It was a case of mistaken identity. I took the wrap, but Dennis had "kicked off" the whole thing. We were playing in the local Birmingham, Alabama league for a team called MILWA (that's another story) during the off-season against a local team and were winning comfortably by about six or seven when Dennis (fairly but let's say rather vigorously) "stopped" one of their central midfielders. The opposing player took exception. So too did some of his mates. I happened to be the closest to all of this so was the first one at Dennis' side pushing away the biggest bloke on their team square in front of the ref. If Dennis were here now, he'd probably tell you it was the only aggressive thing he ever saw me do on a football pitch! The ref looked at me, looked at the big guy as Dennis quietly shuffled off into the background and slowly but surely took out the red card. And, true to form, as I trudged off, Dennis gave me the Dennis Donovan trademark grin that we all got so used to, and all came to love so much. Dennis was a great man, a proper man, a brave man and a real man who personified the values of a great family. I came to rely on him very much during that year I lived in Alabama, to respect him and to value his opinion. He will be truly missed by all who came to know him. He left his mark (in footballing and non-footballing terms) and that perhaps is the most apt way to remember him. He left his mark on all of us and we're more than a bit diminished without him. Enjoy the road Dennis. Stay competitive. To the end. Martin