Favourite left-winger

Published: 5 March 2010

• THE moving tributes to the late great Michael Foot reflect his political idealism and genuine integrity. Another side of his personality for which he will be fondly remembered was his unstinting support for Plymouth Argyle football club.
Michael Foot was born opposite Freedom Fields in Plymouth, and I was born in Freedom Fields hospital on that site some 50 years later. As  Plymouthians in London, one way of keeping in touch with fellow Devon exiles was attending matches whenever Plymouth played in the capital. Michael was a much-loved and respected companion at Argyle games, invariably travelling by Tube along with other members of the “Green Army”.
He used to joke that he “was used to supporting losing causes” (this was before the current electoral success of Labour) and I recall him speaking – with typical passion and rhetorical flair – to some companions and me in a London pub about his wish to see Argyle in the Premiership.
On his 90th birthday the football club registered him with the league as a squad player (no90) and he used to joke about how if things got really tough (Argyle never have much money) he was perfectly happy to come on and play, but of course “only as a left-winger”.
He will be greatly missed on the terraces and grandstands every bit as much as in the political sphere.
CLLR GREG FOXSMITH
Lib Dem executive member for environment