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News and comment on Rangers FC.

1. buzzing blue 12.29.07 / 7pm

   im genuinely shocked and gutted.

   my sympathy and hearts goes out to his family.

   rest in peace
2. Blue9 12.29.07 / 7pm

   Sad day for Scottish football.

   Nice tribute Eck. RIP Phil!
3. Issac the jew 12.29.07 / 8pm

   a very sad day for football, another young man dies on the field of play.

   rest in peace
4. TheWell1991 12.29.07 / 8pm

   Eck, what can you say at a time like this? Kind of puts things into perspective, eh? I’d gladly give up our 3rd place to have one of the game’s gentlemen still with us. In fact I’d take relegation. My heart goes out to his wife and four young kids.

   Everyone at the game today knew immediately it was serious. He just collapsed and the players around him signalled for the doctors to come on. He was worked on for about five minutes before he was stretchered off and taken straight out the ground into an ambulance. you could have heard a pin drop in the ground.

   As you say, Phil is a legend round Fir Park way. I was privileged to see him come through our ranks and I reckon he was “the best” young prospect we ever had. Obviously his numerous injuries stopped everyone else from seeing just how good he was. My best ever double act at Motherwell (and believe it or not I’ve seen a few in my time since I started going to see The Well in 1969) is Cooper and O’Donnell. The young Phil did all the running for Davie and they were a joy to behold. And “our” cup final? One of the best days in all my life and I’ve thanked them many a time for it, even when I was sober.

   He will forever be remembered as one of Motherwell’s best servants. He just conducted himself the way a footballer should. He was a terrific club captain and perfect ambassador for the club.

   I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve shed a few tears tonight, as I did when we lost Coop. Losing talents like these when they still had so much to give - what the fuck is it all about?

   Thanks for the kind words people.
5. Stuart 12.29.07 / 9pm

   Just read this & I’m stunned at the terrible news. My thoughts & sympathy go out to his young family.

   RIP Phil.
6. Jimmyberr 12.30.07 / 1am

   heartfelt sympathy to the odonnell family, and all at Motherwell F.C.The guy was one of the true professionals and worked hard for his club and family, he will be truly sadly missed by all who knew him rest in peace young man.
7. Jimmyberr 12.30.07 / 1am

   heartfelt sympathy to the odonnell family, and all at Motherwell F.C.The guy was one of the true professionals and worked hard for his club and family, he will be truly sadly missed by all who knew him rest in peace young man.
8. smith 12.30.07 / 3pm

   you were a great player and you did your team proud your memory will live on in the teams that you played for and you will be missed
9. Tim Waits 12.30.07 / 6pm

   Truly shocking and tragic news. Tributes have been pouring in from all quarters, which is only fitting for someone as well-loved as he was. My sincere condolences to TheWell91 and everyone for whom this is not just a sporting, but a personal loss. TW
10. Big Joe 12.30.07 / 6pm

    Well said Fat Eck……………………………

    JoetheLARGE
11. Charles 12.30.07 / 8pm

    Eck a fine tribute but truth be known I’d expect no less from you.
    R.I.P Phil, you’ll never walk alone
12. Lone Star Ranger 12.30.07 / 10pm

    A tragedy…sympathies to the family and all who knew him. Re-opens the wound we had for Davie Cooper. Rest in Peace Phil…
13. BlueBhoy 12.30.07 / 11pm

    Thank you Eck m8

    The Well m8 i feel your pain comrade

    Phil meant a lot more to me than a football player. He was my m8 but i’d say even more that he hadn’t like me or any of my other m8’s ever done anything dodgy in his life. He was a giant of humanity and a bastion of smiles. I’m fuckin sick as a pig here as what’s right and wrong folks??????

    God Bless You All
14. RAD 12.31.07 / 7am

    I’ve been totally gutted since hearing the news,
    The tributes around Fir Park are testament to how much Phil was thought of, and how all true football fans regardless of which team they support, are feeling.
    God Bless you Phil.
    Our thoughts go out to your family.
15. A Moses MacNeil Sandal 12.31.07 / 12pm

    All we can take from this untimely tragedy is perspective on what is important in life, and what’s not. Football isn’t important, despite the money, the hype, the reams of newsprint, the TV channels and the time, effort and energy many of us spend on it, it still isn’t important. Football is escapism from real life and when on occasion real life appears in our football world it seems all the worse. Bill Shankly was wrong, football isn’t a matter of life and death in fact it shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence.
    Phil O’Donnell isn’t someone I had ever met or even spoken to and yet I’ve known him since he was a teenager. I’ve observed many of his triumphs, his failures, his moments of joy and his moments of pain. I’ve talked about him, discussed him, shouted at him, encouraged him and slagged him off and now I mourn him. Thanks Phil O’Donnell for helping me escape real life during the last 15 or so years and thanks for reminding me that in the end real life is all that really matters. I hope your family and friends are left in peace to grieve you in private.
16. barca72 12.31.07 / 12pm

    “When the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost but how you played the game”
17. Boaby 12.31.07 / 1pm

    @AMMS:

    Thanks for expressing how I feel better than I possibly could have.
18. Boaby 12.31.07 / 1pm

    Just noticed the OF game has been postponed.
19. Fat Eck 12.31.07 / 1pm

    Yup - bang on, Boaby - the Old Firm game has indeed been postponed as a mark of respect. Thanks goodness for that - was in absolutely no mood for it: Don’t think anyone is.
20. BlueBhoy 12.31.07 / 2pm

    Eck,

    Just heard it’s off and for once the beaks have seen a bit of common sense. Couldn’t give a shit who gains out of this and who will be better placed when it takes place. M8 i’d give ye the next 10 leagues to have Phil back but as life goes on we will move on and forget how we feel just now.

    Happy New Year to ye all when it comes folks
21. Tim Waits 12.31.07 / 2pm

    Fair play to Walter Smith and Rangers for joining in what I understand was Celtic’s request to have the match postponed. It’s a tough call for a lot of reasons, not least the numbers of people who have traveled to see it (I know a few who flew over from, er, Helmand Province just to be there and now probably won’t have the time or dough to make it to the rescheduled game), but It is very gratifying to see both sides united on this issue. If the SPL hasn’t called off all the games at this point they should go ahead and do so. Clearly this is a tragedy that has deeply affected players and staff all over Scottish football.

    And well said, AMMS.
22. TheWell1991 12.31.07 / 7pm

    @ BlueBhoy
    Cheers m8. I’ve never felt anything like I have in the last two days. I’ve actually found it really hard to talk to anyone about it until today and even now I feel myself choking up when I do - it realy has been like I’ve lost a family member. I went to the ground today to pay my respects and the car park at the front of the main stand is just covered with scarves, strips and flowers. I hope to God I never see anything like it again. Personally, I can’t even think about watching another game of football yet and I know that our first game back will be surreal.

    You obviously got to know Phil during his Celtic days and found out what a gentleman he was. I know you’ve said before that you don’t have any heroes - well, I have to admit that I did and sadly he’s just been taken from us.

    @ AMMS
    Well said, sir. Football is indeed escapism from real life, and long may it continue to be so. Unfortunately on Saturday afternoon the two collided and I think this is why so many people are finding it so hard to take.

    Normal life, and football, will resume soon enough and I hope that Motherwell FC, especially Davie Clarkson, come through this okay. Phil O’Donnell would not want it any other way.
23. Charles 01.01.08 / 3pm

    As football fans we obviously don’t get to know players other than what we see on the park or what slants the press put on a player but it’s quite obvious that Phill O’Donnell was a greater person than certainly I and I imagine most of us were aware of. The plaudits I’ve read from mates and opponents alike had one thing in common and it was what I fine man, husband and father he was.

    As to the postponement as I understand it Celtic made the formal request to the SPL which was denied until Smith and Rangers FC stepped in, once again we only see what our coloured glasses allow us to see and very often we miss the true personna of the being.
    Thanks Walter and Rangers FC

    R.I.P Phil
24. U2 01.01.08 / 11pm

    Eck,

    Happy New Year to you and yours and all the frequent contributors to your site.

    It somehow sounds hollow offering traditional happy new year greetings amidst the backdrop of Phil O’Donnell’s passing but, paradoxically, it seems to have brought a real depth and sincerity.

    It’s not often the football community is so fully united. It was nice to see the English clubs showing respect today also.

    As you say, life is not fair sometimes. Four children will grow up with an enormous gap in their lives. Keep your loved ones close this week and appreciate them no matter what flaws they may have or disagreements you may have with them.

    Phil O’Donnell - Requiescat In Pace.
25. Thistledhub 01.02.08 / 3pm

    it was a massive shock to everyone in football. As a Lanarkshire lad, Motherwell was always my second favourite side and like everybody, I feel for Phil’s wife & family. Perspective, as MMS says, really hits home at this time.

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