Fellow Blues legend Terry Butcher has paid tribute to Kevin Beattie, who died aged 64 earlier today.
Butcher idolised Beattie as a fan before playing alongside him as he broke into Sir Bobby Robson’s Blues side in the late 1970s.
"I could never to aspire to be as good as him because he was the best I’ve ever seen in my position, apart from Bobby Moore,” Butcher told TWTD.
"Him and Bobby Moore would have been the ultimate partnership at centre-half, I think. That would have been an absolutely brilliant partnership.
"But it was my pleasure to play with him, to know him, to be a team-mate, to do so many things together, it was the ultimate joy.
"He was such a great character, we called him Monster, he was a monster of guy and a monster of a player and a monster of a character. It’s such tragic news, my thoughts go out to his lovely family as well, 64 is no age.”
Butcher, 59, says that although Beattie was an intimidating character on the field, off the pitch he was quite different.
RIP Kevin Beattie @Official_ITFC greatest ever and all round genuine top guy– James Scowcroft (@scowy1975) September 16, 2018
"He put fear into everybody but he was the nicest guy you could ever meet, like Paul Gascoigne he’d give you his last penny if he could,” the one-time England captain continued.
"But he was just a wonderful man, a wonderful human being, but a fabulous footballer. It was such a shame for the Beat because he didn’t get all the England caps he should have done.
"I was trying to follow him. I was thinking about getting into the Ipswich team and the Beat was there but I was happy that he was because I just wanted to see him play every week.
Sad news. Wonderful player. #RIP https://t.co/txb54puiAO– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 16, 2018
"And I played alongside him as well, we played a game at Everton that sticks out in my mind.
"He was brilliant as usual and we won the game comfortably and he came off the pitch and just said how well I played and that it was a pleasure playing alongside me. I thought, ‘I should be saying that to you!’. He was wholehearted and down to earth and just a giant of a man.”
@Official_ITFC Sad news Mark. A special man and the greatest player! Everyone loved the #Beat #RIPBeat https://t.co/346S7HbCZi– Craig Forrest (@craigforrest1) September 16, 2018
"I had to follow on from him, but how can you follow the Beat? You can’t, but you try your best.
"I was never going to reach his level, never in a million years. But not a bad player to model yourself on.”
In terms of Beattie’s value in the modern game, Butcher added: "You look at Virgil van Dijk and how much was paid for him as a centre-half [£75 million], you’re looking at at least double that for the Beat, he could do anything, everything - score goals at one end, stop everything at the other, pace, strength.
"He had fantastic strength, he didn’t really do much in the gym, he was just naturally strong, Popeye forearms, great big legs.
RIP Kevin Beattie, taken far too soon! Ipswich Royalty at its best. Thoughts are with his family at this time #thebeat https://t.co/nOeaDAYpky– Simon Milton (@Milts25) September 16, 2018
"And he could run as well. When he was in full flight, the Beat, he was like Shergar, supreme, absolutely unbelievable.
"He was like a bulldozer, he really was, but a very quick bulldozer. He was immense, he was absolutely immense.
"A fantastic man and footballer, he loved his football. He loved Ipswich. Once you play for a club like Ipswich, and in those days especially, it was like you were branded with Ipswich Town Football Club all the way through and it was a good thing, it wasn’t a bad thing, it was just love, just love for the club, the people, the area, the town, what it stood for, everything like that.
"And he was a founder member of that when it came to being in that Bobby Robson club at the start, a phenomenal player and it’s a phenomenal miss that we will never hear him again.”
🗣 "He was the best player at the Club in my time there. He had the lot - strength; pace; he was the best in the air; he could hammer a ball. We called him ‘monster’ and that is what he was - a monster of a player. There was no one better."
John Wark on Kevin Beattie 👇 #itfc– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) September 16, 2018
So sad to hear the news of ITFC legend Kevin Beattie passing away 😔
He was always so supportive to me and such a gent to my family and friends.
He will truly be missed. RIP Kev.
My condolences to Kevin’s family and friends at this very sad time.– Tommy Smith (@tommysmith1990) September 16, 2018
The @BBCSuffolk Life's a Pitch team is devastated at the passing of our dear friend who regailed us with so many great stories, the best ones were off air! @Official_ITFC have just told me there will be a minutes applause on Tuesday night #RIPBeat #COYB pic.twitter.com/IbMJSzDv2Y– Mark Murphy (@MarkGlennMurphy) September 16, 2018
All at the club are saddened to hear the news of the passing of former #ColU and Ipswich player, Kevin Beattie. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. https://t.co/mUXfOlOzuM– Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) September 16, 2018
So shocked & saddened to hear my friend Kevin Beattie has passed away. In my opinion the greatest Ipswich Town player of all time. Kevin used to pick me up when I was a ball boy. Such a lovely man. My thoughts & prayers are with Kevin’s family and friends. RIP mate. pic.twitter.com/WCezN5YSy2– Keith Deller (@KDeller138) September 16, 2018
Devastated to hear the news that our friend,@Official_ITFC & England Legend Kevin Beattie has passed away,a lovely,friendly fella who had time for everybody,will be sorely missed to all that knew him...RIP The Beat 😪– Kevin Painter (@OfficialKP180) September 16, 2018
What sad news to hear of the passing of @Official_ITFC legend Kevin Beattie a great player and character. Thoughts are with family and friends #RIP– Ray Clemence (@RayClem1) September 16, 2018
Very sad to hear the news that Itfc and England legend Kevin Beattie has passed away!! But for some terrible injury’s would of been an England stalwart great bloke awesome character will be missed RIP Beat x– ian marshall (@bigmarshy20) September 16, 2018
Very sad to hear the passing Ipswich Legend Kevin Beattie. Thoughts with his family and friends.– Mark Falco (@falco_mark) September 16, 2018
Well said Warky! RIP Kev ! https://t.co/fX0BKLrao6– Neil Thompson (@thommotalks) September 16, 2018
Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of my former @BBCSuffolk co commentator and @itfc legend Kevin Beattie. I’ll remember so many matches covered together, of course, the Wembley Play Off final and most importantly the laughter on those long away match journeys. RIP pal...– Terry Baxter (@Terry__Baxter) September 16, 2018
Very sad to hear that Kevin Beattie has passed away. He was great to me at Ipswich and you could tell by his presence and influence around the club what a top player he must of been. RIP Kevin and my thoughts are with your family. pic.twitter.com/OMKNfS9a0X– Alex Bruce (@AlexBruce84) September 16, 2018
Very very sad to hear this news a terrific player for @Official_ITFC and the country my deepest condolences to the family one of the best players of his generation https://t.co/g4KM4JmISD– Peter Shilton (@Peter_Shilton) September 16, 2018
Just Landed in Boston from LA and was greeted with this news. FFS I am shocked. He was the first player to greet me after my move to â¦@Official_ITFCâ© https://t.co/AudLirSvKF– Paul Mariner (@Paul_Mariner) September 16, 2018
I, like many others listened to ‘The Beat’ on @BBCRadioSuffolk previewing the @HullCity match, little did we know that it was going to be for the last time,,he was one of the first of the @Official_ITFC pros to make me feel welcome as a 16 year old back in 1975, an enormous help– Russell Osman (@RussellOs5) September 16, 2018
So sad to hear the news of the passing of Kevin Beattie.....
One of the greatest @Official_ITFC players of all time
Sorely missed by friends and all that knew him #ITFC– Matt Holland (@mattholland8) September 16, 2018
Kevin Beattie, who won nine caps for the #ThreeLions between 1975 and 1977, has died at the age of 64.
Our thoughts are with Kevin’s family, friends and all who knew him. pic.twitter.com/5Zi1CBrtGK– England (@England) September 16, 2018
Strong memories of Sir Bobby Robson talking about Kevin Beattie when he worked on his book. This says it all... pic.twitter.com/o3N9XtG7O2– Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) September 16, 2018
Deeply saddened to hear the news that Botcherby-lad Kevin Beattie passed away this morning. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this time. 'The Beat' was a real character who often popped in to Brunton Park when up north. RIP Kevin #cufc pic.twitter.com/rjQ44Q2noR– Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) September 16, 2018
All at FC Clacton are saddened to hear of the passing of #itfc legend Kevin Beattie. Our condolences go out to Kevin’s family and friends. https://t.co/Zlr8rPFjPr– FC Clacton (@FC_Clacton) September 16, 2018
And that’s the truth! https://t.co/l664IGZOgb– Russell Osman (@RussellOs5) September 16, 2018
Awful news. A legend on and off the pitch. The Beat always gave his time to speak with young players at the club to pass on his knowledge of the game. A tremendous loss to the game and to the club. Thoughts are with his family and friends. https://t.co/ycrVwOM14h– Jason deVos (@jasondevos) September 16, 2018
Don't know much about football but I do know Kevin Beattie was a very special player - RIP Kev– Derek Pringle (@derekpringle) September 16, 2018
"He could sprint like Usain Bolt, he had springs in his heels and a cannon of a left foot... what a player and what a character."
Alan Brazil pays tribute to his former @Official_ITFC teammate Kevin Beattie, who passed away yesterday at the age of 64.#RIPBeat pic.twitter.com/RuWa21tl6J– The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (@SportsBreakfast) September 17, 2018
Such sad news. Always loved his company. A legend on & off the pitch and one of a kind #RIP https://t.co/uwDhCJWdj5– Karen Pickering MBE (@Karen_Pickering) September 16, 2018
Kevin Beattie was a giant of a player .... so sad to hear of his recent death, far too early in life. My sincere condolences to his family and close friends 🙠https://t.co/R4bt5RBxkj
— Gary Stevens (@GaryStevensUK) September 17, 2018