CCFC-Tributes paid to Mike Dye

On Tuesday 6th September 2011, it was reported via a friend on Facebook:-

“gutted mikey dye rest in peace cowardly attack in front of my eyes”

Prior to the England v Wales Euro Qualifier, being held at Wembley stadium, there was an incident involving Cardiff City supporter Mikey Dye. Emergency services were called to an area outside the arena around 19:20, following reports of an assault shortly before kick-off.
Ollie Ayton was near to the incident when it happened and told the BBC he had heard the man fall to the ground.

“I did not see him fall as I was facing the other way but I turned immediately to see him unconscious. There did not appear to be any fight before; I cannot confirm this as I did not see it, but there was no excess noise or shouting that signalled a fight.”

A Met Police spokesman said, “Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. A man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was taken to a north London hospital suffering from head injuries. He was pronounced dead at 8.50pm.”

Originally six football supporters were arrested in connection with the incident. Rumours were instantly quoshed about possible rivalry with England or Swansea supporters. The six arrested were from North Wales and South East Wales but live in England. The six have now been released and Police are taking no further action against them. On Friday 9th September Police arrested a 41 year old man from Worcester and have now charged him with manslaughter.

Photo credit:Cardiff City FC

There was instant support from across the Cardiff City supporters and everyone paying tribute to Mike on the Cardiff City Forum and Facebook pages. There were many other messages from around the football world on Twitter aswell:-

http://twitter.com/#!/darrenpurse4/status/111564781525278720
http://twitter.com/#!/Chrisgunter16/status/111487293038137344
http://twitter.com/#!/nufcfans/status/111227992021278720
http://twitter.com/#!/antgerrard86/status/111337471970775042
http://twitter.com/#!/joe16led/status/111195443362398208
http://twitter.com/#!/Parky08/status/111200293169020928

Tributes have also been paid on the old gates of Ninian Park which were relocated across the road from the old stadium at Sloper Road. Flowers, flags, soft toys and messages have been left including Robert Earnshaw laying a tribute on behalf of the whole of the Cardiff City football team.

Photo credit:Barrie McAuliffe/Cardiff City FC

A minutes silence was immaculately observed at the England v Wales Legends game at Pride Park featuring a host of Wales Legends including ex-Cardiff player Andy Legg.

A fund has been set up for Mike and at the time of posting had reached over £2000 in just 3 days! If you want to donate please visit the thread at:-
http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=msg&th=292751&start=0&rid=0&S=973ee220ba196f7b7167057c7777cb9b Where there are details and explanations of how to donate and any other questions answered.

Some newspapers decided to run stories on Mike just hours after his death – namely The Daily Mirror, The Sun and the Daily Mail. This was totally unecessary and insensitive to family and friends.
So much so that Cardiff City Football Club have released a statement requesting that none of the offending publications attend the stadium for the home match against Doncaster.

“Cardiff City Football Club were disappointed to read articles in three national tabloid newspapers this week whereby we feel insensitive and unfounded connections were drawn from the tragic events at Wembley Stadium on September 6th 2011.
It is our opinion that The Daily Mirror, The Sun and the Daily Mail have acted insensitively towards the memory of Mike Dye at a time when his family are still in the early stages of mourning their loss.
It is also our view that the tabloid attempts to draw tenuous connections of possible clashes between Cardiff City and Swansea City supporters at the Wales v England match come without any direct evidence or basis for doing so, using this as a means to cite ‘Rivalry fury’.
This is something that we consider to be extremely disrespectful to both clubs and supporters following many positive steps being taken between both clubs in recent years, specifically in light of the sympathies being shared by both clubs and all supporters over this tragic incident.
The club have taken this matter up with the Press Complaints Commission and will be contacting the tabloids named directly in due course.”

On match day of Saturday 10th September a total of £10,000 was collected from home and away fans where people were donating to buckets collections around the stadium. It was really moving to see everyone happily donate and observe the memorial – which I’d say EVERYONE viewed on the way to the game. Within days the total has now topped £13,000. Inside the players wore black arm bands and there was a minutes applause before kick-off. Final score on the day was Cardiff City 2, Doncaster 0.



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I have constructed this post, just to ‘blog’ and archive the events, reporting and huge support that has been shown for a true gent and Bluebird fan. I hope this will act as a record in time of the events and what a great response there was from the whole football fraternity. PEACE.