Newcastle delay Speed tribute at wife’s request

Newcastle United have postponed their planned tribute to former midfielder Gary Speed at the request of his wife Louise. Mrs Speed will be at Elland Road today as Leeds pay their respects to their former midfielder and Newcastle will now follow suit before their next home game against Swansea on Saturday, 17 December.

Managing director Derek Llambias said: “We have today received a request from Louise Speed to postpone the club’s planned tribute to her husband Gary in order that she can join us at the stadium when our tribute takes place.

“Louise has been very touched by the plans and expressed a desire to be present. As Louise will be at Elland Road tomorrow, on her request we have rescheduled our tribute and it will now take place at our next home game against Swansea on 17 December. A minute’s applause for Gary will still take place before kick-off (tomorrow).”

Newcastle had planned to have Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes lead a capacity crowd of 52,000 in the hymn Bread of Heaven before a minutes’ applause ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Supporters in the East Stand were also to be provided with black and white cards which, when held up, would depict the number 11, the shirt number Speed wore during his spell on Tyneside. The Wales manager made 285 appearances and scored 40 goals for the Magpies during a six-and-a-half-year spell with the club.