I distinctly remember where I was on the night of February 18 1998. I was sat at home in my house in Weston Super Mare and was randomly looking through Ceefax at the football headlines as I did most nights.

However, this was not going to be a normal browse through the pages as I saw a headline halfway down the page that made me freeze. I forget the exact words but it was to the effect of 'Welsh legend James dies' and I knew immediately it was Robbie. I don't know why as it could have been someone else but you just get that sick feeling and you know. I paged the number and there it was on my screen confirmation that we had lost one of my two big Swansea heroes - Curt being the other one.

1998 was the days of Swanmail and I headed upstairs to download the emails that would see other Swans fans discussing a tragedy that none of us expected - after all Robbie was in the prime of his life.

It was maybe a little fitting that he died doing what he loved best but that is no consolation really as we lost a player that I will always count myself lucky that I was able to see play.

Robbie James - for those of you who never saw him play - was simply brilliant. We know all about his part in our rise through the divisions in the late 70s and early 80s but it was his last spell at the club that I will always remember. Robbie had returned home and he was back as a midfielder who took no prisoners. I always remember that spell knowing that when Robbie decided he was going to run with the ball nobody would stop him. He simply was - and always will be - a legend to me.

I was proud to be part of the fundraising committee that raised money for the Robbie James bust that now is attached to the wall of the Liberty Stadium. It almost felt like the least I could do for the entertainment pleasure that Robbie had given me when he was playing. I'll never forget the Friday night we had the bucket collection at the stadium for the bust and the number of people that ignored the bucket until they knew what it was for and then they returned and put money in generously.

We have the Robbie James Wall of Fame in development and that will contain eventually 100 names of Swansea legends all of whom - like Robbie - lit up our lives as fans for some point of their careers and our lifetimes.

Ironically Robbie also played for Bradford so maybe it is somewhat fitting that next Sunday we will take on another of his former clubs in our first Cup Final. You just know he will be watching down from above and we know he'll be wanting us to go on and lift the cup.

Personally I will never forget Robbie. I have been lucky enough to talk to Curt many times in my role within the Trust, I just wish I had had the chance to speak to Robbie as much but I was certainly lucky enough to see him play.

RIP Robbie, gone but will never be forgotten

Photo: Action Images

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