A tragic loss of a man amongst boys - Phil O' Donnell - 1972 - 2007

I remember Phil O'Donnell, a Belshill boy, bursting onto the scene as an explosive talent at Motherwell - His footballing prowess immediately encouraged comparisons between Captain Marvel - Bryan Robson and Celtic legend Paul McStay. The comparisons with my hero Robbo instantly led me to take an active interest in O'Donell's career. In 1994 he joined Celtic for 1.7 million - still a record figure for an outgoing player at Motherwell.

'Uncle Phil' made his debut as a wiry 18 year old at St Mirren and was given a torrid introduction to Scottish football by Kenny Macdowall, the tough and unassuming St Mirren Centre half. It obviously helped as O'Donnell went on to become Scotland's young player of the year in the 1991-92 season. He scored in a 4-3 Hamden Park victory over Dundee United in the 1991 Scottish Cup final. It was the last time the 'steelmen' won any silverware.

Persistent injuries hampered an excellent career and he found it difficult to settle into team spells at Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday, before returning home to Scotland and Motherwell.

Terry Butcher, who probably saw the same fighting qualities he used to display on the pitch in O' Donnell, ensured that the mercurial O'Donnell's services were retained for a further year as club captain. O'Donnell collapsed from a suspected seizure at Motherwell's SPL fixture against Dundee United at Fir Park yesterday. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Manager Marj McGhee told Radio 5 Live that O'Donnell had produced his performance of the season.
O'Donnell at 35, very much the older statesman in the dressing room, took great pride at leading such a talented bunch of youngsters, including his two nephews at Motherwell. Interviewed in the Times last month he said; 'I will be 36 in March and I am just trying to play as long as I can and enjoy it.

'Honestly, each game is special to me. I have missed too many games in the middle of my career to stop playing at the age of 35, so I will play as long as I can.

'I can definitely play another two, three, or even four years.'

After being instaled as skipper by Maurice Malpas, O'Donnell held onto the captaincy under Mark McGhee. His tremendous form in the current campaign was a major contributory factor in Motherwell reaching the summit of third place behind the Old Firm.

Ex Scotland boss Craig Brown called O'Donnell ' a gentleman.' O'Donnell joins Motherwell, Rangers and Scotland Wing ace Davie Cooper as footballing greats that died young. An explosive, combative, box to box midfielder, if he hadn't suffered injuries O'Donnell would have been as good as Steven Gerrard.

Phil O 'Donnell died yesterday aged 35 at 5.18 pm - on the very stage that his legend had begun - Fir park. He leaves behind his wife Eileen and four children.