Memories of Maradona: Mile-high keepie-uppies at White Hart Lane against Liam Brady

Diego Maradona has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. Here, Gerry Cox remembers his encounters with the squat, muscular figure who bestrode the footballing world like a colossus

Diego Maradona of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Ossie Ardiles testimonial match at White Hart Lane in London in 1986. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport

I was transfixed with joy and wonder when I first saw Diego Maradona in the flesh, going through his unique warm-up routine wearing the white of Tottenham Hotspur in May 1986.

Seven weeks later, my reactions were anger and heartbreak when he knocked England out of the World Cup with two goals, one of pure skill, the other blatantly punched past Peter Shilton.