I think it is a good job I was spending a few days away from nsc at its request last week as I learned that my hero, my passion, my leader, my god, Michel Kuipers - Brighton and Hove Albion number one was no more. I may not have been responsible for my actions had I not been.
It is impossible for me to sum up the way this man has touched my life and all of yours in his decade-long success story in mere words. Indeed, I could not do so even with emotion and action too. But I will try.
For as long as I can remember, Michel has been a flair icon, goalkeeping genius and all-round good egg. He will probably never know just how much he has meant to me for so long, and will continue to for as long as I walk this land. From the moment I set eyes on him I knew I was in love. Big, strong, black, lovely voice, fit, and utterly flair - EVERYTHING you want in a goalie. In my opinion, this man was more responsible for us winning two championships in a row than Bobby Zamora and he is the ultimate albion hero of my time by some way. He should be remembered as so by a lot more people.
For many it is about the saves - Bristol City, Forest, Wolves, Blackpool and all the rest. But for me it has been about the flair. Hot-headed, rash and eager he was, committed and sometimes wrong most certainly. But this made him all the more perfect.
I will not go into what I feel about Gus Poyet for this heinous act, or Tony Bloom for allowing it to happen and not overruling his blundering manager. This is a tribute to the man who has shaped my teens and early 20s. Life will not be the same, Brighton and Hove Albion will not be the same. I am considering my own future in light of this, and not renewing my ST is a possibility for the first time in 12 years. A part of me and part of my support has died and will never return. But Michel, do not have this on your conscience. You gave your all, you saw off 25 other keepers, and whatever we paid you you were worth DOUBLE. There will never be another.
All I have now are the memories, but they are enough to keep me going for a lifetime.
Thankyou for listening and god bless,
x
Get over it you f***ing BENDER