http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1036492/tragic_death_on_football_ground/

On the vid at the bottom click continue to video>> to go right to the vid

Very sad vid

---------- Post added at 01:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 AM ----------

Has to have a say

Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76. The former England manager, who had fought a long battle with cancer, passed away at his home this morning.

"It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer," read a statement released by Robson's family. "He died very peacefully this morning at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.

"Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only. A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby's life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues.

"Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time."

The prime minister Gordon Brown led the tributes, saying that Robson's "Passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism knew no equal during his time both as a player and a manager", and countless others echoed such sentiments.

"It is difficult to accept such a person is no longer with us," said the Internazionale manager Jose Mourinho, who worked as Robson's translator at Sporting Lisbon, and then as his assistant at Porto and Barcelona. "But he is immortal because he leaves in everybody who knows him a mark of his personality - a great coach but, more than that, a great person."

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was similarly effusive in his praise, saying: "In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson. I mourn the passing of a great friend, a wonderful individual, a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed." Brown's predecessor Tony Blair, a Newcastle supporter, described Robson as "one of the nicest, most caring and genuine people I ever met - a real Geordie gentleman."

David Lacey: He was the heart and soul of English football

Louise Taylor: To put it simply, Sir Bobby had class

Gallery: Robson's colourful life and career in pictures

Stricken by cancer Robson had looked frail when, in a wheelchair, he made his final public appearance last Sunday. Appropriately it was at St James' Park, the home of the Newcastle United team he always supported and, for five uplfiting years, managed.

The occasion was a fund-raiser for Robson's cancer charity involving a re-run of the England v West Germany Italia 90 semi final featuring many of the original participants. That World Cup semi-final saw England, then under Sir Bobby's charge, lose to Germany on penalties in the cruellest moment of Robson's often glittering managerial career.

Robson's playing career had come to an end in 1968 after 18 years in which he featured for Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and, briefly, as player-manager, the Vancouver Royals in the now defunct NASL. He also won 20 England caps, scoring four times.

After Vancouver he began a lengthy spell as manager of Ipswich Town - from 1969 to 1982 and embracing winning the FA Cup in 1978 and the Uefa Cup in 1981 - ahead of eight years in charge of England. His career would also take in stints in charge of Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and, finally, his beloved Newcastle.

One of just a handful of English coaches to have prospered abroad, Robson had travelled a long way from his upbringing in Langley Park in County Durham but, never forgetting his roots, always hankered after the return to north-east England occasioned by Ruud Gullit's resignation from Newcastle in 1999.

Although, as his wife Elsie and three sons rarely tired of reminding him, Robson remained a football obsessive he proved a far more rounded man than many of his peers. Well aware of life's shades of grey, he was unusually generous spirited towards critics and opponents and consistently magnanimous in defeat.

Moreover Robson never failed to support fellow managers experiencing tough stints and took great pleasure in mentoring young coaches - most notably a certain Jose Mourinho, whose football life began as Sir Bobby's interpreter in Portugal before later accompanying him to Barcelona.

On the pitch, Robson's teams invariably played bold, expansive football frequently featuring two orthodox wingers and, if things were not proceeding to plan, he delighted in making sometimes match-winning triple substitutions.

Told he was destined to lose his fifth battle against cancer - something which first afflicted him in 1991 - Robson opted to spend his final months endeavouring to improve the lot of fellow cancer sufferers in the north-east and at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital in particular.

In March 2008 he established the Sir Bobby Robson foundation. By that November he had raised £1m and in the August he reflected on his own position with a typical realism and impressive lack of bitterness.

"My condition is described as static and has not altered since my last bout of chemotherapy," said Robson. "I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometimes and I have enjoyed every minute."
 
Where is Davie Cooper and Phil O'Donnell ? Both great players up north but fail to get a mention

Depressing thread though, Not something you want to think about
 
The link up there has a little vid about Phil O'Donnell
 
I remember when Samuel Okwaraji died it was shocking he was running and looked like he just fell over and it was all over the papers the next day how sad for him and his family and way to young to die. My team where i live margate lost someone last year rip to all footballers who have died doing what they love...
 
Remember guys if there is some I have missed and you think should be on the list please can you add them thanks alot
 
I remember poor David Longhurst's death well,i was at the Boro match at the old Ayresome Park and they announced it on the tannoy during the match,terrible,the game seemed unimportant after that and you could tell it had affected the players.

I also feel Terry Yorath's young son should get a mention,he was said to have a bright future in the game collapsed and died while doing kick ups in the garden,i believe he was only 15,a real tragedy.

Im finding all this very sad and depressing to be honest with you.
 
15 and died doing kick up's in his garden that is really bad :O
 
I remember poor David Longhurst's death well,i was at the Boro match at the old Ayresome Park and they announced it on the tannoy during the match,terrible,the game seemed unimportant after that and you could tell it had affected the players.

I also feel Terry Yorath's young son should get a mention,he was said to have a bright future in the game collapsed and died while doing kick ups in the garden,i believe he was only 15,a real tragedy.

Im finding all this very sad and depressing to be honest with you.

Jesus... that is awful. :S

Also finding this thread depressing, prob won't post here again.
 
R.I.P to all of the above that have sadly passed away.

Here are the 4 from the 1991 scottish cup winning side who have sadly passed away:'(

JAMIE DOLAN: 1969-2008

A FORMER midfielder with the Lanarkshire side, Dolan died after suffering a heart attack while out jogging.

He made nearly 200 appearances for Motherwell, becoming a fan's favourite for his tireless enthusiasm. He also played for Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Livingston, Forfar Athletic and Partick Thistle.

PAUL McGRILLEN: 1971-2009

The former Motherwell striker was found dead at his Hamilton home on Wednesday evening. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

He also played for teams including Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Airdrie, before embarking on a successful spell in junior football. Last year, he won the Scottish Junior Cup with Bathgate Thistle.

PHIL O'DONNELL: 1972-2007

The Celtic and Motherwell veteran died from heart failure after collapsing during a Motherwell game.

He was just 17 when he played – and scored – in the 1991 Scottish Cup final, the first victory in a long and celebrated career. The midfielder was capped by his country and regarded as one of Scottish football's greatest role models.

DAVIE COOPER (1956-1995)

THE former Rangers and Motherwell player died in 1995 from a brain haemorrhage while filming a children's football show.

The left-winger, who won 22 caps for Scotland, was regarded as one of the game's most skilful practitioners. In a tribute to Cooper, Rangers manager Walter Smith said: "God gave Davie Cooper a talent. He would not be disappointed with how it was used."
 
Goalkeeper Adun of Warri Wolves FC, was assaulted by thugs suspected to be fans of the opposition team. Slumped and died 3 days later from internal haemorrhage, during a training session.

Omfg that is is so harsh **** the people who did that they should be tourtured to death.

R.I.P.
 
i disagree with tourturing people but it is a sick thing for sure,
 
I was wandering up and down the internet, searching for some data on my favourite team- Hajduk Split, and searching for materials on NIKOLA GAZDIC, i came across this forum and specific topic. And i must say, i am very pleasantly surprised to see the name of so called Janjcic(that was his nick name- in Croatian it means- little lamb, due to his curly hair). He was, allegedly, one of the most talented young players in Europe at that time.
Many football experts consider him to be one of the 4 greatest Hajduk Split players ever- along side Vladimir Beara(Great Vlad), bernard vukas(Bajdo) who both played for the team of the world in fifties, and Hajduk's legendary captain Frane Matosic, whose best footballing years were stolen by ww2.

But to get back to Gazdic- it is rather interesting how he died, what were the circumstances, so i'll write it, maybe, someone even finds it interesting to read it.

In Croatian football there was always a great rivalry between Split and Zagreb. Team from Split is and always was- Hajduk. From Zagreb it was- Gradjanski(means- the one from the city, like manchester city, for example) until ww2, and after ww2 Dinamo was founded. It reminds a lot of rivalry between Barca and Real, with Hajduk much more resembling Barca, and Dinamo resembling Real.

Football in Croatia was starting to be played during the first years of 20th century. Very important thing to bare in mind is that Zagreb was an administrative center back then, very much connected with Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Bratislava, Belgrade...and Split was literally cut off in terms of infrastructure(roads, railway...), and unfortunately had very little to do with european footballing centers at that time.

But, Hajduk was playing very good, against local teams, and against teams featuring English and Scottish players in British navy, when their ships were anchored in port of Split.
So, inevitably, soon came the invitation from Zagreb, by Gradjanski, for Hajduk to play them in Zagreb to finaly resolve which is the best team in Croatia.
Much much easier to say then to do. Why? Today it's only 2-3 hours by car, or 40 minutes by plane. But then, Hajduk players needed 6 days to reach Zagreb and get back home! And there was no profesionalism then, all players were employed, and their employers didn't look too kindly on them being absent from work for a whole week, for just a football match.

"Just a football match"- oh, how wrong they were...

Hajduk travelled to Zagreb, played first half, and then left the pitch at the beginning of second half, losing 2-0, because of unfair refereeing. In Split, you must understand that, people are very very fiery, temperamental, true Mediteraneans, and you can only imagine the reactions the defeat and abbandoning the game caused. Someone "had to be guilty".

The truth is that referee definitly was biased, and that Hajduk players didn't count on tiredness from trip, but still- the escape goat was found: Hajduk's best player- Nikola Gazdic. He was accused of treason! That's how his bad game was explained. Here must be said- that ever since the club was founded in 1911, main virtue were supposed to be courage and fighting spirit, honesty and never giving up. After all- Hajduk in Croatian is a name for some kind of Croatian Robin Hood, who stole from rich to pass it to poor...

Gazdic was ,actually, believe it or not, banned from, not only being a Hajduk player any more, but also from coming home back to Split. So the team went home, and he left for Belgrade.

Some time passed, and Gradjanski was visiting Split, for purpose of a rematch. Gazdic found out about that, and got back home. He approached Hajduk's coach, hiding, so that no one would see him, and literally begged him to let him play again, for his city, for his team. Franz Mantler, great Austrian player of that age, who played for and coached Hajduk, spoke to others from the club, and allowed Gazdic to play.

And play he did. Legend says it was the best individual performance in Hajduk's kit ever, of all the times, it was May the 22nd, 1921.
Gazdic scored, and got the penalty(which Mantler converted) for a win of 2-1. And the crowd were stunned to see him on the pitch at the very beginning of the game. But very soon, as he started to drive crazy opponent's defenders with his immense skill, whole stadium was shouting his nickname.

Celebration after the game was spectacular (to describe the importance of that game for cities of Split and Zagreb- i'll just tell you that that match almoust caused war between the two cities, there were many other interesting things connected to this match, but this is a story of Nikola Gazdic), but in the dressing room(old small wooden shack) unimaginable happened- Gazdic started to cough blood, and got in a very bad state- was taken to the hospital immediately, where he died a day after.

He was suffering from tuberculosis, without anybody knowing it, and his state worsened a few days before the match, but he wanted to play at all costs. His love for his town, his people and his team was enormous, and so was his love for the game...

Miljenko Smoje, great Croatian writer, wrote that his(Gazdic) performance in that match reminded him of one special singing bird, which sings the most beautiful song/aria of her life, just before she(bird) dies, once in a lifetime...

His funeral was, according to written sources, the biggest one Split has ever seen at that time...

RIP, janjcicu...RIP rico...
Driblaj i zabijaj gori na nebu...
 
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