Mail 3/12/11
This is for you, Speedo: Brave widow visits Elland Road shrine
By John Helm
They came in their thousands, still incredulous at the passing of a footballer whose popularity transcended even his deeds as a player.
Gary Speed has gone at the age of 42 and left behind him a wife, two sons, a multitude of memories and mystery as to how it could have happened.
The build-up to Leeds’ game against Millwall was a true celebration of a young life which promised so much more. Fans of the former Wales midfielder and manager clapped until their hands were sore.
There were similar scenes around the Premier League, too, with Tottenham’s Wales star Gareth Bale removing his boot after scoring at another of Speed’s old clubs, Bolton, to reveal the message: ‘RIP Gary Speed’.
At Elland Road, Speed’s widow, Louise, left the ground just before half-time to inspect the massed tributes around Billy Bremner’s statue with other family members. They spent about 15 minutes looking at the scarves, shirts and photographs fans had left in what has become a shrine to their loved one.
They picked up many of the tributes to read the messages, sharing some with each other. Pinned to the statue was a headline from the day Leeds won the last First Division championship title in 1992 above a photograph of Speed and Gary McAllister celebrating.
Speed started his career at Leeds, winning a League title after making his debut as a 19-year-old in 1989. The affection for him at Elland Road was clear. Prolonged applause broke out as supporters waved scarves and chanted ‘Speedo, Speedo’.
The travelling Millwall fans joined in, capturing the spirit of the day, and at the conclusion of one 11-minute bout of singing Speed’s name between the 11th and 22nd minutes, everyone in the ground stood to give a rousing finale.
Hours before kick-off hundreds of fans had mingled around Bremner’s statue. Toddlers were lifted on to shoulders, grown men wept, some said silent prayers — all wanting to pay their respects to a favourite son of the club.
McAllister, who was sitting next to the former Wales manager and old pal on the BBC’s Football Focus sofa less than 24 hours before he was found dead at his home last week, has been distraught.
‘Alan Shearer broke the news and I turned to jelly’ he wrote in the programme. ‘He’s just a guy we all love. Not necessarily as a footballer, but just as a good friend.’
Eddie Gray, who signed Speed and current Leeds manager Simon Grayson on the same day as 14-year-olds in 1984, added: ‘Gary was one of the most popular players to grace this club. As everyone has said, no-one ever had a bad word to say about Gary. He seemed to have so much going for him. That’s what makes it all so hard to comprehend.’
Applause rang around the ground as a four-minute video of Speed’s greatest goals — he scored 57 in 291 games for Leeds — were shown on a giant screen before kick-off.
Prior to the scheduled minute’s applause, McAllister and David Batty flanked Gordon Strachan, the other member of the illustrious midfield instrumental in Leeds’ last title success, as they walked to the
centre circle.
Strachan, along with managers Grayson and Kenny Jackett, laid wreaths on either side of the halfway line, and the large lunchtime crowd applauded thunderously at the words: ‘A player who will never be forgotten, Leeds United No 11 Gary Speed.’
It was the first time Batty, who flourished along with Speed under manager Howard Wilkinson, had been back to Elland Road since his retirement as a player.
Mrs Speed took her place in the stand shortly before kick-off along with Speed’s father, Roger, a former Wrexham player.
The crowd chanted Speed’s name incessantly, at one point urging one another to ‘stand for Gary Speed’ — and, of course, everyone did.
Leeds and Millwall fans have seldom been united but the memory of a universally respected player achieved that.
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey said: ‘We wanted the family to have the opportunity to see how much Gary Speed meant to everyone here at Leeds United.
‘I think the reception and recognition Gary received spoke volumes for the person he was. Equally, we would like to thank the Millwall fans for their appreciation as well.’
Grayson added: ‘It was fitting Gary got the acknowledgement of everybody connected with this club.
‘He was a fantastic player and person who will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
‘We started here together 28 years ago and our mums and dads were friends. My dad chatted with Gary’s mother and father before the game.
‘I told our No 11, Lloyd Sam, at half-time that he was wearing the same number Gary used to wear and that Gary scored a lot of goals.
‘It would have been fitting if Lloyd had scored, but he made Snodgrass’s second. That was good enough.’
This is for you, Speedo: Brave widow visits Elland Road shrine
By John Helm
They came in their thousands, still incredulous at the passing of a footballer whose popularity transcended even his deeds as a player.
Gary Speed has gone at the age of 42 and left behind him a wife, two sons, a multitude of memories and mystery as to how it could have happened.
The build-up to Leeds’ game against Millwall was a true celebration of a young life which promised so much more. Fans of the former Wales midfielder and manager clapped until their hands were sore.
There were similar scenes around the Premier League, too, with Tottenham’s Wales star Gareth Bale removing his boot after scoring at another of Speed’s old clubs, Bolton, to reveal the message: ‘RIP Gary Speed’.
At Elland Road, Speed’s widow, Louise, left the ground just before half-time to inspect the massed tributes around Billy Bremner’s statue with other family members. They spent about 15 minutes looking at the scarves, shirts and photographs fans had left in what has become a shrine to their loved one.
They picked up many of the tributes to read the messages, sharing some with each other. Pinned to the statue was a headline from the day Leeds won the last First Division championship title in 1992 above a photograph of Speed and Gary McAllister celebrating.
Speed started his career at Leeds, winning a League title after making his debut as a 19-year-old in 1989. The affection for him at Elland Road was clear. Prolonged applause broke out as supporters waved scarves and chanted ‘Speedo, Speedo’.
The travelling Millwall fans joined in, capturing the spirit of the day, and at the conclusion of one 11-minute bout of singing Speed’s name between the 11th and 22nd minutes, everyone in the ground stood to give a rousing finale.
Hours before kick-off hundreds of fans had mingled around Bremner’s statue. Toddlers were lifted on to shoulders, grown men wept, some said silent prayers — all wanting to pay their respects to a favourite son of the club.
McAllister, who was sitting next to the former Wales manager and old pal on the BBC’s Football Focus sofa less than 24 hours before he was found dead at his home last week, has been distraught.
‘Alan Shearer broke the news and I turned to jelly’ he wrote in the programme. ‘He’s just a guy we all love. Not necessarily as a footballer, but just as a good friend.’
Eddie Gray, who signed Speed and current Leeds manager Simon Grayson on the same day as 14-year-olds in 1984, added: ‘Gary was one of the most popular players to grace this club. As everyone has said, no-one ever had a bad word to say about Gary. He seemed to have so much going for him. That’s what makes it all so hard to comprehend.’
Applause rang around the ground as a four-minute video of Speed’s greatest goals — he scored 57 in 291 games for Leeds — were shown on a giant screen before kick-off.
Prior to the scheduled minute’s applause, McAllister and David Batty flanked Gordon Strachan, the other member of the illustrious midfield instrumental in Leeds’ last title success, as they walked to the
centre circle.
Strachan, along with managers Grayson and Kenny Jackett, laid wreaths on either side of the halfway line, and the large lunchtime crowd applauded thunderously at the words: ‘A player who will never be forgotten, Leeds United No 11 Gary Speed.’
It was the first time Batty, who flourished along with Speed under manager Howard Wilkinson, had been back to Elland Road since his retirement as a player.
Mrs Speed took her place in the stand shortly before kick-off along with Speed’s father, Roger, a former Wrexham player.
The crowd chanted Speed’s name incessantly, at one point urging one another to ‘stand for Gary Speed’ — and, of course, everyone did.
Leeds and Millwall fans have seldom been united but the memory of a universally respected player achieved that.
Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey said: ‘We wanted the family to have the opportunity to see how much Gary Speed meant to everyone here at Leeds United.
‘I think the reception and recognition Gary received spoke volumes for the person he was. Equally, we would like to thank the Millwall fans for their appreciation as well.’
Grayson added: ‘It was fitting Gary got the acknowledgement of everybody connected with this club.
‘He was a fantastic player and person who will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
‘We started here together 28 years ago and our mums and dads were friends. My dad chatted with Gary’s mother and father before the game.
‘I told our No 11, Lloyd Sam, at half-time that he was wearing the same number Gary used to wear and that Gary scored a lot of goals.
‘It would have been fitting if Lloyd had scored, but he made Snodgrass’s second. That was good enough.’