The true importance of football was put into context by the sad and tragic death of former Wednesday midfielder Phil O'Donnell.
O'Donnell was captaining Scottish Premier League side Motherwell to a victory over Dundee United on Saturday afternoon when he collapsed towards the end of the game, just as he was about to be substituted.
Phil, aged just 35 was treated for 5 minutes before being rushed by ambulance to Wishaw general hospital but all efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 1718hours after failing to regain consciousness.
A statement by Motherwell owner John Boyle on the clubs official website read:
"This is an unspeakable tragedy for Phil's family. At this stage we do not know the exact cause of death but the Club is obviously liaising with the medical staff at Wishaw general.
Everyone at Motherwell is shocked to the core and we are sure that everyone in Scottish football will feel the same. Phil was not only an inspirational player for Motherwell and Club Captain, but was an inspirational person. All of us at Motherwell are thinking of his wife Eileen and their four children."
O'Donnell was hampered by injury problems in his time at Hillsborough and played just 25 times between 1999 and 2003 although he did play a role in the Owls run to the League Cup Semi-Finals in the 2001/02 season, scoring in the Quarter Final win against
I am sure that all true Wednesday fans will echo the feelings of Mr. Boyle in expressing our heartfelt sympathies and sincere condolences to all those close to Phil O'Donnell.