'There's no one better to find at your side than Lou'

THE WAY I SEE IT

- Mike Pejic

LOU Macari has a heart as big as the world. He was the same as a player, as a manager and, you can bet, as a small kid.

He likes to help people. That's it. He's been supportive all his life. People might not see it with him because he’s forthright in his views but he is sensitive and caring as well as angry at injustice. He likes to do things correctly and won't go half measures at anything.

He grew up in Largs and moved from Glasgow to play in Manchester and on to make his home in Stoke. His life and career will have given him an insight into all the different challenges or privileges that people have - and he's gone through himself. He approaches everything with open eyes and an open mind.

There are some people who find themselves in a hole for various reasons. Some people don’t get the breaks. You never know what life has in store and sometimes situations might seem hopeless. Well, there is no one better you would want to find on your side than Lou.

He is that rare kind of person that will still jump in to try to make whatever difference he can. You're not going to save everybody but that doesn't stop him trying. The size of the challenge might daunt a lot of us but Lou is patient and determined.

He has gone in at ground level to try to tackle homelessness and it is inspirational to see the work he has done over the last 10 years.