Championship - Tributes paid to tragic Sharp

Wed, 02 Nov 10:00:00 2011

Managers Dean Saunders and Tony Mowbray led the tributes to Doncaster striker Billy Sharp after an emotional night at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Doncaster players - 0

Third-placed Middlesbrough ran out 3-1 winners after Sharp had given Rovers the lead with a spectacular volley, although it was remarkable that the home captain had taken to the pitch in the first place.

Earlier in the evening Doncaster announced Sharp's two-day-old son Louie Jacob had tragically died on Saturday. The crowd commemorated the infant's life with a minute's applause before kick-off and the former Sheffield United man sent them into raptures with his 14th-minute opener.

"I knew what was going on all week and I also know the finer details of what happened, which is worse than you think," said Doncaster boss Saunders of Sharp's situation.

Managers Dean Saunders and Tony Mowbray led the tributes to Doncaster striker Billy Sharp after an emotional night at the Keepmoat Stadium. - 2 "He rung me last night (Monday) and asked me if he could play - he wanted to play. He wanted to play to score a goal for his son and his family and he was ready to go. When he said that to me I couldn't really refuse."

Middlesbrough counterpart Mowbray added: "Taking the professionalism out of it, I'm delighted for the boy that he's scored such a fantastic goal on such an occasion for him. It's amazing to think for anyone who's had children the emotional drain that must have been with him - I couldn't put it into words.

"For him to score a wonder-goal, your headlines should be there really - a goal from heaven."

Sharp later tweeted that his goal was the "most important" of his career and thanked fans of both teams for the pre-match tribute.

"My goal tonight was the most important goal of my career dedicated to my brave boy luey jacob sharp I love u son sleep tight.thatsforyouson," he wrote.

"To captain the side tonite was an honour and a pleasure,the minute applause I was crying meant so much to me thanks to both sets of fans. My goal had to be something special tonight for my special boy. I'm so proud of him, and his mum @jadecarlie86."

However, Barry Robson's double either side of Marvin Emnes's effort in first-half stoppage time, courtesy of a dreadful error from Rovers goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, gave Middlesbrough victory and sent their opponents to the foot of the Championship table.

PA Sport

Comment 251 - 270 of 270

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  1. Heart felt wishes to you and your family.

    KRO

    From Realist., on Sun 8 Jan 16:40

  2. Heart felf wishes to you and your family.

    KRO

    From Realist., on Sun 8 Jan 16:40

  3. respect due Billy Sharpe and family .....Leeds united­ fan

    From Dave, on Fri 4 Nov 2:38

  4. Bless you both, stay strong and most of all love each­ other, bless your baby boy xxx

    From Giggles B, on Thu 3 Nov 7:45

  5. evans
    thats just @#$% man. do you know him? have you­ met? do you know his wife? have you experienced the­ death of a loved one? or are you just looking for some­ attention? please dont comment on something you know­ nothing about and give the man and his family some­ respect. its people like you that lower this forum to a­ @#$% level. get your facts straight before you start­ spouting.

    From Alex, on Thu 3 Nov 6:45

  6. You cannot even put into words the sheer courage that­ Billy Sharp displayed. It takes a special kind of man­ to step onto that pitch and display the bravery that he­ did. He did his son's name proud.

    Rest in peace­ Louie

    Man U fan

    From M EVANS, on Thu 3 Nov 6:30

  7. Hmmm I am 50 50 on this one folks. if it were my­ child i would be too grief striken to even think about­ my job. On the other hand life goes on. I cant help­ but think if he had not scored a goal would the media­ be all over this? or would they be criticising him for­ playing just after his boy had died? Personally I am­ feeling uncomfortable about the media spin. either way­ my deepest sympathy to the family and i hope they will­ recover best they can without too much public­ intrusion. God forbid this becomes some kind of­ publicity stunt. and for any of you readers who doubt­ that possibilty have a close look at yourselves please

    From Alex, on Thu 3 Nov 6:19

  8. @TRT David he's lost his baby and your writing­ rubbish like that ,he's a true legend go and learn­ something called respect suppose your one of the­ pepole who backed that scumbag Tevez when he refuses to­ play on 250k a week unlike sharp who plays days after­ his child dies on much less money ,your comments sicken­ me.

    From DILLIC'S MUM, on Thu 3 Nov 6:17

  9. Tevez and co take note of someone who actually has­ passion for the game and real problems unlike that­ piece of scum Tevez.

    From DILLIC'S MUM, on Thu 3 Nov 6:10

  10. yeah well done billy for being so brave and his­ partner! our hearts go out to ur little lad r.i.p­ little fella chin up billy im also a HULL CITY fan­ great goal by the way!

    From Chris, on Thu 3 Nov 5:44

  11. I am so sorry for your loss I am not a doncaster fan I­ am a ManU fan, but i donot think this matters at a time­ like this you are a real role model and i wish you and­ your family all the very best.

    From A, on Thu 3 Nov 5:35

  12. I hate football, I hate the hatred that it can bring,­ but this isnt about football, this is about a man being­ a good husband and father and realising that whats­ important is family. I hope he inspires many others,­ footballers or not, to show just how important family­ is. My thoughts are with you all at this very sad­ time.

    From Ali, on Thu 3 Nov 5:28

  13. Nobody would have begrudged Billy timeout for his­ tragic loss.He will grieve in his own time and way with­ the backing of not only the footballing world but the­ entire country.I hope a certain Argentinian is hanging­ his head in shame at his pathetic antics a few weeks­ ago.
    I know who i would want my kids to look to as a­ role model.

    From John, on Thu 3 Nov 5:14

  14. R.I.P lil man my heart goes out to the family at such a­ difficult tym your son will be so proud of you (daddy)­ your a true footballer ! x

    From Claudine, on Thu 3 Nov 5:04

  15. Comment 251...the correct term is no 'I' in­ team.....however there is a 'U' in @#$%!!!!

    From billiewind1980stewart, on Thu 3 Nov 5:04

  16. Carlos Tevez. £250,000 a week. Refuses to play because­ he doesn't feel up to it.
    Billy Sharp. £10,000 a­ week. Will play two days after the tragic loss of his­ two day old son.
    Put this as your status to show­ respect to Billy Sharp and family! Once a Blade always­ a Blade.....
    R.I.P Louey Sharp

    From debbienuttall41, on Thu 3 Nov 4:59

  17. credit to him playing it must be the hardest thing in­ the world to have to deal with losing your own child­ thoughts are with you and your­ family.

    From Chris, on Thu 3 Nov 4:18

  18. This man is a true pro footballer and he puts greedy­ self opinionated sloths like TEVEZ to shame TEVEZ you­ couldnt lace Billys boots
    Stan H

    From stanley, on Thu 3 Nov 4:17

  19. What a man. Football aside it takes a brave strong man­ to get up and go out to work in such tragic­ circumstances.
    May your baby son Louy Rest In Peace .­ My deepest sympathy to the Sharp family.

    West Ham­ fan xx

    From Zed, on Thu 3 Nov 4:14

  20. TRT David (comments 251 & 252) please have some­ respect for the man and his family. Billy Sharp­ didn't have to play but he did and as a member of­ the Doncaster team his club and supporters have been­ wishing him well during a tragic episode. You may not­ turn up for work after your kid dies but your work­ would support you if you went in.

    From Rory, on Thu 3 Nov 4:14
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