100's turn out to pay tribute to Phil O'Donnell

lil eva · 100's turn out to pay tribute to Phil O'Donnell

Famous faces from the world of football were joined by ordinary fans to say farewell to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, who died after collapsing during a match.

Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects to the player who suffered heart failure last Saturday, aged 35. O'Donnell collapsed towards the end of his club's 5-3 victory over Dundee United at Fir Park. He leaves his wife, Eileen, and their four children.

O'Donnell's family arrived 15 minutes before the start of the service. Two of his nephews, both footballers, were among the family mourners - David Clarkson, who plays for Motherwell and was on the pitch when his uncle collapsed, and Stephen O'Donnell, who plays for St Mirren.

Mourners began arriving a full two hours early for the Requiem Mass at St Mary's Church in Hamilton, but even before that, fans began to line the streets outside in silent tribute.

O'Donnell's Motherwell team-mates arrived an hour before the start of the service, led by manager Mark McGhee.

The Celtic team arrived later with manager Gordon Strachan and club chairman, Dr John Reid, the former Home Secretary and the entire Dundee United team - Motherwell's opponents on the pitch last Saturday - arrived to pay their last respects to O'Donnell.

Among the fans waiting to pay tribute was Derek Moore, 33, a Motherwell fan for 25 years, from Carfin, Motherwell.

Waiting in the street outside, he said: "He was just a perfect gentleman, an absolute gentleman, and I'm here to pay my respects for his family."

During the service, O'Donnell's former Motherwell team-mate Chris McCart read a tribute to the man he first met when he was a 16-year-old going through the ranks at Fir Park.

McCart, now youth development officer at Motherwell, said: "Phil O'Donnell, family man, wonderful footballer, inspirational captain, role model, a great human being, and of course Uncle Phil.

will_lufc

R.I.P young man you will be missed by many my heart goes out to his family and friends

Jillster

what he said ^^^^^

Jolufc

Yeah its absolutely tragic, really upset me when I heard.

RIP, will be sadly missed.

chimp

Tragic - heart goes out to his family