Tributes to a legend

Chelsea stars wear black No8 shirts ahead of West Ham game as fans lay flowers outside Stamford Bridge to remember Ray Wilkins

Blues warmed-up for the Hammers clash wearing commemorative T-shirts in touching tribute

CHELSEA stars donned black No8 shirts ahead of Sunday's clash with West Ham, as fans laid flowers outside Stamford Bridge to remember Ray Wilkins.

Blues legend Wilkins died at the age of 61 on Wednesday having suffered a heart attack just days earlier.

Advertisement
Chelsea players wore black No8 shirts as a mark of respect to Ray WilkinsCredit: REUTERS
Fan laid flowers and messages ahead of the game for the late Ray WilkinsCredit: Alamy Live News

Having been placed in an induced coma, Wilkins passed away, leaving the footballing world in mourning.

Footballers, pundits, fans and clubs from all over the world paid tribute to one of football's most-loved icons.

But Wilkins is often most-fondly remembered by Chelsea, with the club putting on a series of tributes for the legend on Sunday.

Hours before kick-off, supporters arrived to lay flowers, leave messages and take in the sombre atmosphere.

Advertisement
Chelsea prepared for their clash with West Ham with black No8 T-shirtsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Supporters left messages and gifts as a mark of respect to Ray WilkinsCredit: PA:Press Association
Banners were visible around the ground in tribute to Ray WilkinsCredit: REUTERS
Ray Wilkins was remembered at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoonCredit: Getty
Advertisement
Chelsea played a video of Ray Wilkins and tributes to him as the players and fans took part in a mintues applause on SundayCredit: AFP

Then, during the pre-match warm-ups, Chelsea stars took to the Stamford Bridge turf dressed in black shirts as a mark of respect.

There was a minute's applause ahead of kick-off, fittingly in this weekend's final Premier League game - as fans also applauded on the eight-minute mark, for an emotional minute.


'HE LIVED FOR FOOTBALL' Tributes from the football world pour in as Ray Wilkins passes away after suffering heart attack


A video was also played on the Stamford Bridge big-screen from the likes of Frank Lampard, Carlo Cudicini and John Terry.

Advertisement

All-in-all the pre-match tributes created a unique atmosphere in London ahead of the game, as fans allowed themselves a celebration of the life of Chelsea legend Ray Wilkins.

Players and fans pay respect to Ray Wilkins ahead of the Manchester Derby
Ray Wilkins is well-remembered at Chelsea after time there as a player and coachCredit: Alamy Live News
Ray Wilkins died on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack days earlierCredit: Getty

MORE FOOTBALL FEATURES

ACADEMY AWARD
Everton owner Dan Friedkin is worth £6bn and landed a WW2 jet as stuntman
ROY'S RAGE
Things that make Roy Keane angry, from ABBA to prawn sandwiches
DUTCH MASTERS?
How Dutch managers rate in Premier League from Ruud Gullit to Erik ten Hag
LEW BEAUTY
Spurs billionaire Joe Lewis lives on £195m yacht and is pals with Tiger Woods
A tribute to football legend Ray Wilkins who died from a heart attack aged 61
Chelsea fans laid shirts, flags and flowers for the late, great Ray WilkinsCredit: PA:Press Association
Advertisement
Ray Wilkins banners were strewn across Stamford Bridge on SundayCredit: AFP
Chelsea 1-1 West Ham: Javier Hernandez bags late equaliser after Cesar Azpilicueta dedicates opening goal to legendary Ray Wilkins
Advertisement
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com