Fans, Friends Join a Minute's Applause to Remember Gary Speed

One of the greatest icons of Welsh football is being remembered by his fans and friends.

The memory of Gary Speed, who was found dead at his Cheshire home last week in an apparent suicide, is being marked by a minute's applause at every Premier League fixture, while crowds at the Wales-Australia rugby game observe a minute's silence.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United have decided to postpone the remembrance plans following a request made by Gary's widow Louise. Gary's former team had originally planned to lead the 52,000 crowd at St James' Park in the Welsh hymn Bread of Heaven while fans in the east stand held up cards depicting the number 11, Speed's shirt number.

Now, a full tribute will be paid to him on December 17. But Newcastle will still be part of Saturday's minute of applause.

Leeds United is holding a poignant and emotional afternoon in memory of the iconic player, as they host Millwall. "This is the place where Gary started his career, and he played many games here, not just in senior football, but for the reserves and the juniors as well. There's a lot of things going off on the day and it's bound to be a very emotional afternoon for everyone," Gordon Strachan, who played alongside Speed for Leeds, has told the Leeds website.

At Sheffield United's ground Bramall Lane too, a minute's applause is being be held before the FA Cup game against Torquay United. "Gary Speed was a wonderful ambassador for the game of football and will be remembered as an iconic player of the Premier League era," the league said in a statement," the club said.