I
First of all, I want to thank my kids, Ellis, Cameron and Lexi, the three most important people in my life. I hope I’ve made you all proud.
My mum and dad have always loved and supported me and I’m so grateful for the fact that we are as close again now as we ever were.
My brothers Paul and Matthew are two good men who I’m proud to call my family.
Sometimes divorce obliterates the good memories but my ex-wife Claire and I shared some happy times in our years together before we grew apart and went our separate ways.
I’d like to thank every manager that has had to put up with me. They have all left a mark on me. I didn’t really want to mention any of them individually but after this season with Cardiff, I have to state my gratitude to Malky Mackay. He’s been tremendous.
I could not have asked for a better agent than Steve Horner. His advice has been fantastic. I might not have listened to him all the time but I should have. I wouldn’t have got into as much trouble.
Phil Baker, my business adviser, has been a good source of advice, too, as well as a mate. And my PA, Suzanne Twamley, has been a true friend who has been watching me play football since I was eight.
Dr Steve Peters has had a huge impact on me and still does now. He has shown me what happiness is.
I am not the easiest person to work with when I’m recovering from injury so I’d like to thank all the physios down the years who have allowed me to keep playing. I would like to single out Andy Williams, the knee surgeon, as well. A huge thank you to him.
Not many people know Kieron Dyer properly but I am grateful for the fact that I do. He’s an intelligent man and my best friend in football.
I owe a lot to Dato Chan Tien Ghee, better known as TG, the former Cardiff City chairman. His determination to get me to come to Cardiff never waned and his passion was amazing. He had many kind words for me in tough times.
In the moments after we won promotion, I was lucky to be able to share some of the joy with the Cardiff City doctor, Professor Len Nokes. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have been with right then.
I want to mention James Reardon, better known as Jimmy Ray, a great friend of mine who died too soon.
I want to mention all the clubs I have played for, all the people who work for those clubs, all the fans who support those clubs.
And, of course, I want to mention Gary Speed. The impact he had on my career while he was here was incredibly important. In a strange way, his influence on me since his death has probably been even greater.
Craig Bellamy, 2013
For Nana Mary.
Not a day goes by when
I don’t think of you.