Minute's applause for tragic Speed
Sportsdesk • Published 28 Nov 2011 17:45
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Devastated: Reading's Andy Griffin played alongside Gary Speed at Newcastle United.
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READING and Peterborough United will honour Gary Speed with a minute's applause before tonight's game at Madejski Stadium.
The clubs agreed to stage the tribute shortly before the 8pm kick-off after receiving clearance from the Football League.
Wales boss Speed MBE was found dead at his Cheshire home on Sunday morning, aged 42.
An illustrious 22-year playing career included spells with Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United. He made 677 career league appearance and 85 for Wales.
Reading right-back Andy Griffin spoke of his disbelief at hearing the tragic news about his former Newcastle team-mate.
"When people talk about him today, they are all saying what a good guy he was," said Griffin. "He was obviously a great player, you don't achieve what he did without the exceptional professionalism he had. But more so, as a man he carried modesty around with him, he was very successful in his business.
"He was just a top bloke, it's as simple as that, and it's very, very, very sad. He's someone I always had the utmost respect for as a man, as a football player. Everyone had nothing but positive things to say about him, and rightly so."
Reading manager Brian McDermott was in regular contact with Speed regarding the club's Wales duo Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu.
Writing in his programme notes for the Peterborough game, he says: "Words could not describe our training ground on Sunday morning when we heard the news.
"Noel Hunt came across to tell me he'd had a phone call about what had happened, and the whole training ground was in a complete state of shock.
"I knew Gary personally from his days at Sheffield United and when he became Wales manager. Although he was a top international manager and doing a fantastic job, he was always very respectful of the position of the club manager.
"He would ring me regularly to talk about Churchy, to talk about Hal, how they were doing and if they had any knocks or injuries. He would always pick the phone up - just a very, very humble person, someone who has done absolutely everything in the game.
"Football is in disbelief at this moment in time, and will be for a long time to come."
Ex-Reading captain Ady Williams lined up alongside Speed for Wales on numerous occasions.
Williams recalled: "He always made you feel welcome, no matter whom you are, whether you were an established name or an under 18 coming through the ranks - he was a top bloke and will be sadly missed.
"It has been unbelievable, everybody in the world of football can't believe it. You could be on air from now until next year and everybody would only say nice things about him because he was a top fella."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 29 Nov 11
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