How Neill the visionary left his mark on Arsenal

FOR a generation of Arsenal fans, the 1979 FA Cup Final stands as the defining match in their formative football experience, perhaps for some even their childhood outright.

- Malik Ouzia

As such, the outpouring of grief at the passing of the club's manager that day, Terry Neill, at the age of 80, yesterday, came as little surprise.

Born in Belfast, Neill's breakthrough as a player came at Bangor before he learned of Arsenal's interest when reading about it in a newspaper during the interval of a picture at his local cinema.

He moved to London in 1960, aged 17, and by 20 had become the youngest ever permanent Arsenal captain, a record that still stands.