Tributes to O’donnell
A decade since tragic loss
Tributes were paid this week to the late Phil O’donnell, on the 10th anniversary of his death.
The midfielder collapsed during a 5-3 win over Dundee United on Saturday, December 29, 2007.
Family life was important to Phil, and that’s what former teammate Stephen Craigan remembers fondly.
“Everyone at the club was aware of what Phil had achieved as a player and how hard he worked in his career,” he said.
“But he also enjoyed his family life. Looking back, that was the mark that Phil’s death left on me and some of the older players in the squad.
“What happened brought a lot of things into perspective. Yes, enjoy your employment, but spend time with your family and have fun with them.”
Phil collapsed as he was about to be substituted during the game at Fir Park, which few will remember for the football on show that day.
Craigan says Phil told him he felt ill seconds before falling to the ground, and panic then swept through the team.
He said: “I’ll never forget it and I can’t imagine what his family have gone through.
“I remember the substitution being made and saying: ‘Phil, your number’s gone up.’ He had a hollow look on his face and I asked if he was okay.
“He said ‘No, I’m not feeling very well,’ and he fell.
“I put my hand in his mouth because I thought maybe he had swallowed his tongue.
“He bit my fingers and that’s when the panic kicked in among the players close by.”
Simon Donnelly, who played with Phil at Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday, said: “My cousin called and said Phil had collapsed and I immediately thought it was a bad head knock.
“I flicked on the final results show on the BBC and I could tell from the look on Pat Nevin’s face that there was something more seriously wrong.
“I went to see (Phil’s wife) Eileen with Darren Jackson and Jackie Mcnamara the following morning. It was a horrendous experience for us, but you can only imagine what it was like for Eileen and the family.”