Wycombe Wanderers - News Item by Chairboys on the Net

MARK PHILO TRIBUTES
WANDERERS FANS
(First published 20th January 2006)
Tributes left at Adams Park for Mark

More written tributes left by Wycombe supporters in memory of Mark Philo who tragically died on 14th January 2006.

I first saw Mark Philo about 3 years ago in a reserve game at Buckingham Road vs Gillingham. He stood out immediately. Tall, elegant and with so much more time than the rest. For me, from that first sighting, it was a matter of when, not if, he would become a first team regular. I'm sure he would have been by now but for the bad luck with injuries. This is deeply sad news. A genuine tragedy that we won't see more of him as a footballer. Still more that his family and friends won't see more of him as a man. our frank

Met the chap the other week at Reading train station. He was in high spirits and looking forward to his return. Really was a shame this happened. Will be placing flowers at the spot. RIP Mark Wokingham Blue

Heartwrenching. Words fail me at a time like this. Rest in peace. You will be sorely missed. blues girl

Mark Philo - R.I.P Catherine
R.I.P I'm lost for words what a shame bluemoon16
Gutted, a huge loss R.I.P Mark, sorely missed TBF
God Bless & rest in peace. Tony
rest in peace mark philo valley blue
Mark Philo - Rest in Peace Ollie
What a tragic waste of life,condolences to the family,words fail me tedski in Bolton

What a Great Young Talent he was. He had a Great Future ahead of him and if it wasnt for his injurys then he would most probabaly been a regular by no. You will be sorely missed Mark. Not just on the pitch and in the dressing room but off the field aswell. My Heart Felt Sympathy goes out to Mark's family and friends at this sad time. Rest In Peace Mark. True Blue

I remember watching you single handedly make Portsmouth look an ordinary side in a pre-season friendly before you hurt your ankle. A memory i will always keep in my heart. RIP Mark Blue is the Colour

Mark will be forever in our hearts, he would have been a great talent. WE WILL WIN THE LEAGUE and it will be a tribute to Mark, R.I.P H

Without a doubt mark would have been a future great at wycombe , his skill and power as a footballer were already appreciated by all. no words can ease the pain his family are going through at the moment but hopefully the emotions expressed on the gas room and elsewhere will show the high reguard mark was held in at wycombe and in football. may he rest in piece. omen

Mark, you will truly be missed by us all and we will never now how great you would surely have been. In your very short career, you became a cult figure and a fans hero. With very deepest simpathy, our thoughts are with your family and all those that were close to you at this very tragic time. I am sure that the tributes left at the ground over the next few days will show your family and friends just how much your short time on this earth was appreciated by so many. Sad Fan

Farewell Gentle Giant. I feel privileged to have met you off the pitch and watched you grace it. You were a true gentlemen on and off the field. I have not long got home from the game after hearing the gutwrenching news in the Scores Bar. Over the last twenty years i have ploughed back and forth along the M4 corridor to my Mecca Adams Park and not once have i taken a blind piece of notice of the town of Reading. But strangly tonight as i passed the Reading central junction i felt my eyes being drawn north towards the town centre. I was deep in thought with a lump in my throat and i'm not ashamed to say a tear in my eye i suppose it was my way of trying to make some semblance of order out of yesterday. I feel as if i've had my stomach ripped out so i cannot comprehend what Mark's family and friends and the extended Wycombe Wanderers family are going through. Mark you will not be forgotten by this fan because every time the sun shines on Adams Park i'll remember your smile and every time the moon beams i'll remember that glint in your eye, wicked. RIP South Wales Blue

Every time I have met Mark during my time working for the Food and Beverage team at WWFC, his politeness and humility has stood out as being almost unique amongst modern footballers. A few years ago, when I spent some of my Wednesday afternoons off school at Buckingham Road watching the reserves, he stood out as being the best player on the park nearly every time, and I was truely excited at the prospect of witnessing his break into the first team. On a personal level, I am gutted never to have had the chance to see this man play week in, week out.
During his tenure, Tony Adams described him as the most naturally gifted footballer at the club; In building the current promotion-chasing squad, Adams has shown, albeit in retrospect, that he has an eye for a good footballer. Sadly, due to the tragic injuries he incurred, WWFC will never know the extent of the talents of the man we have lost.
These losses, however, will bear into insignificance when compared to those of his family and close friends, to whom I send my sincere condolences. And although, on a day like today, footballing matters bear into complete insignificance, these sad events provide all the more incentive to make 2006 a year to remember; if not for the sake of the fans, or the club itself, then for the memory of Mark Philo himself. May he rest in peace. Adam Cecil

It's the best part of 8 hours since I heard the news and I've barely been able to think of anything else tonight. For me, this event on such a local scale is far more affecting than any outpouring of national grief. Not knowing the guy and having seen only a handful of his first team appearances, it wouldn't be fitting for me to go on as if I knew everything about him, but he was clearly one of the most talented youngsters we've had at the club, and he always came across as a top guy.
In life, due to a cruel series of injuries, his name never gained the fame it deserved. It is at least fitting that, albeit at the highest cost imaginable, his passing is allowing the word to spread about the qualities of Mark as both a player and as a man.
Condolences to family, friends, teammates, staff and everyone connected with the club. I just hope they can all take some small comfort in seeing the reaction of the fans to yesterday's terrible events. We will all move on, but we will never forget. Andrew

I only saw Mark play on a handful of occasions and he did enough to become a firm favourite. He was always a joy to watch and played with a terrific attitude. He had a truly special talent, seemed to glide past players in a way only the very best do and was a player who always created a buzz when he was on the pitch. R.I.P. Mark, you are sorely missed. G

May i just say that my sympathies are with Mark's Family, and may he Rest In Peace, he was a great talent and was a special player, my last game watching him was against Gillingham in the LDV's this year, and his performance was great as it was always when he played. He will be sincerely missed. iliveinyoureyes

I have just heard the news in the last hour (I live in Canada, 5 hour time difference) i do not know what to think. I did not know the man although we had met. It suddenly makes football seem very very unimportant. I know nothing can bring consolation for the loss his family have suffered. I only hope they will be made aware of the volume of condolances flooding in and realise how many people share their grief. R.I.P Mark Philo. Je me Souviens (I Will Remember) Ben Endley

We have probably lost one of the most talented young players ever to play at WWFC. I don't think we ever got to see the best out of him either. Sad and shocked, R.I.P Mark Philo and all my sympathy to his friends, family and anyone who had the privilege to watch Mark play. Sad day at Wycombe Wanderers! Lewis Pattison

I can only really reiterate what everyone else has said and send my wishes to Marks family and friends. My lasting memory of Mark will be the Portsmouth friendly when he waltzed passed premiership defenders like they stood still. He could have been something special on the pitch and we will never see it blossom BUT more than that we was a son and that is the most special thing in the world. Slag

Tributes left at Adams Park for Mark

I too can only reiterate these sentiments. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. McBilbo

You may be gone, but you'll not be forgotten. May you rest in peace and may your family find strength from the support of those who worked with, watched and respected Mark: a true gentleman xxxx Cordwallis Group

I am in tears. When i heard the news i could not stop crying. I had high hopes for Mark and when I saw him play last I thought he did extremly well and I thought he would go far. I give all of my love and surport to Mark's family. (I am also sorry to hear about the lady that died). From Leanne (aged 9)

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