http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16383027.stm Gary Ablett, the only player to win the FA Cup with both Liverpool and Everton, has died at the age of 46 following a battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The defender played more than 100 games for both Merseyside clubs and Birmingham. He also managed Stockport. "Respected throughout the game by players, coaches and managers alike, Gary will be sadly missed," the League Managers' Association said. "Our thoughts and condolences are with Gary's wife Jacqueline and children." Having joined Liverpool as an apprentice in 1982, Ablett made his debut in December 1986. Under manager Kenny Dalglish, he helped a dominant Reds win the League title in 1988 and 1990 and the FA Cup in 1989. He was sold to arch-rivals Everton for £750,000 in January 1992 and went on to lift the FA Cup with them in 1995. Ex-Liverpool striker Ian Rush paid tribute to his former team-mate. "Gary was a really versatile player, somebody who would play anywhere the manager asked him," Rush told BBC Sport. "The fact he played for both Liverpool and Everton says something about how good he was as a player. "He summed up what Liverpool people are all about. He gave 100% to the team and my favourite memory of him was after the 1989 FA Cup final - he was so proud to win something for the team. "Off the pitch, he was the perfect gentleman. He had a lovely family, which he brought up really well, and he was such a respectable person. If he could help you with anything, he would." Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson also shared fond memories of Ablett, who was his boot boy at the club. "I think I had left the club when he broke into the first team, but it was obvious he was always going to get there," Lawrenson told BBC Sport. "He knew he had to work hard to make it, and that is what he did. "He had lots of pace to recover and he was very good on the ball, as many left-sided defenders tend to be. "He was a good team-mate too, you could never have enough Gary Abletts in your team." Pat Nevin played with Ablett for six months while the pair were at Everton and regularly lined up against him before Ablett moved to Goodison Park. "Gary was a lovely, lovely guy who was liked by everyone," he said. "I don't think anyone will have a bad word to say about him. "He was a classy defender and had decent quality going forward as well and he was not dirty in any way. But because of his understated way he was maybe under-rated by many people. "It says something that I enjoyed playing against him even in the Merseyside derby, which is one of the most stressful games in world football, because he was just such a nice guy. I'm shocked and saddened." After a loan spell at Sheffield United, he joined Birmingham in 1996 and went on to make 104 appearances there. After short spells at Wycombe and Blackpool, Ablett finished his playing career at Long Island Rough Riders in the American A-League in 2001. In 2002, he moved into coaching, working with Everton's youth academy until 2006 when he took over as Liverpool reserve team coach. He became Stockport manager in July 2009 but endured a difficult season as the club, crippled by financial administration, were relegated to League Two. Ablett left in June 2010 when the 2015 Group took ownership of the club. Ablett had been fighting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, for 16 months. Last year, he gave his backing to Blue September, a campaign to raise awareness of forms of cancer specifically affecting men. In an interview with the Everton website, he described the shock of being diagnosed. "I thought it can't be me, it just can't," he said. "I felt so strong - I had played for the best two teams in the world, coached for the best two teams in the world. It can't be me. But unfortunately it was." He added: "If you feel anything, you need to get it checked out. I've done it previously in the past when I had cancer in my toe. "Get it checked, don't mess around. Don't ever think it can't be you because it could be. Cancer doesn't discriminate - it can attack anyone at any time." Ablett's three main clubs - Liverpool, Everton and Birmingham - all carried tributes to their former player on their websites, offering their condolences to his family. Dalglish, currently in his second spell in charge of the Reds, said: "The most important thing just now is to pay our respects to Gary, his wife Jacqueline, the two boys and his wee girl. "It's a sad, sad day for his family and everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club. "Obviously he had a long battle and I'm sure it was a lot of suffering and a lot of pain for him, but the only thing you can say is at least he won't be suffering any longer."
