The Lawman

Denis Law (24/2/40 – 17/1/25)

The football world mourned last month when the legendary Denis Law passed away. The prolific centre-forward will be remembered as one of the all-time greats and, in Waterford, for his part in the famous European Cup clashes at Lansdowne Road and Old Trafford.

The 1964 Ballon d’Or winner was in unstoppable form when the reigning champions Manchester United met Waterford in the autumn of 1968. Law scored all three of United’s goals in their 3-1 first-leg win in Dublin followed by four more in the 7-1 return leg in Manchester. That gave the Scotsman the distinction of being the first player to score hat-tricks in both legs of a European tie. Two more goals against Anderlecht in the next round ensured he finished the competition as that year’s top-scorer, mainly down to his success against the Blues.

Huddersfield Town manager Bill Shankly gave a 16-year-old Law his league debut in December 1956. The young Law is pictured (above) a few months later enjoying a cup of tea in the Huddersfield dressing-room. He moved to Manchester City and then spent a season in Italy with Torino before switching to the red half of Manchester. He won two league titles, one FA Cup, that European Cup and his Ballon d’Or while at United and finished his career back with Manchester City. He also scored 30 goals in 55 caps for Scotland.

Law in action with Noel Griffin, Paul Morrissey and Peter Thomas at Old Trafford (Getty Images)

Law’s passing means thirteen of the twenty-four players who featured in those 1968 clashes have left us. For United, Jimmy Rimmer, Alex Stepney, Francis Burns, David Sadler, Pat Crerand and Brian Kidd survive with Tony Dunne, Bill Foulkes, Nobby Stiles, Bobby Charlton and George Best all having died before Law. For Waterford, Peter Thomas, Peter Bryan, Noel Griffin, Jackie Morley, Al Casey, Shamie Coad and Johnny Matthews have passed away, but we still have Paul Morrissey, Jimmy McGeough, Vinnie Maguire, John O’Neill and Alfie Hale with us.