Terry McDermott was at Anfield on Saturday and, the weekend before, St James’ Park.
Those supporters of Liverpool and Newcastle who waved, hollered, smiled and sang towards him knew nothing of his dementia diagnosis.
He does not, then, need tributes such as this to know just how loved and respected he is on his native Merseyside and adopted Tyneside.
The former Liverpool midfielder's decorated career was supported by a life filled with laughter
But, in the hours after his dementia battle was revealed on Saturday evening, the kind words of friends and strangers have been a source of great warmth and reassurance to McDermott, his wife Carole and three children, Neale, Rachel and Greg.