The Welsh manager, Gary Speed, died recently and the nation are still trying to come to grips with the death of this footballing legend. Across the UK last weekend hundreds of thousands of people paid tribute to the player and there were many emotional scenes. He was recently found dead aged only 42.
At the Leeds United football ground a tribute was held to the player on Saturday afternoon and tens of thousands of fans came to pay tribute. They were joined by Louise Speed, his widow and their two sons.
At the football ground a huge number of tributes to Speed have been placed around the statue of Leeds legend Billy Bremner. During halftime, Louise speed came out onto the pitch to inspect the tributes made to her husband.
A montage was also shown which highlighted some of the finest moments that Speed had while playing for Leeds, the club where his first professional contract which he signed in 1988.
In Newcastle, at St James’s Park, there were also scenes of remembrance and there was a great deal of celebration and clapping before the match kicked off to remember the player. The memorial was actually delayed because Mrs Speed said that she wanted to come to the ground to thank all the fans before the match began.
David Moyes is the manager of Everton and he has recently commented about Speed’s death, “He was a true gentleman of the game and his death is truly a sad loss for football.” Gareth Dale, a Welsh player for Tottenham Hotspur has paid tribute to Speed by stitching, ‘RIP Gary Speed’ onto the side of his boot. All across the UK flowers, scarves and football shirts have been left at stadiums to remember the player.