Beddows Emotional Goodbye - Millions Mourn

After tonight match v Lazio Beddows announced that he was to be leaving the San Siro for pastures new - as was to expected what followed was chaotic scenes of emotion which can only be comparable with what the bible predicted will happen on judgement day and what followed was a hastily arranged memorial service which millions attended.  

At full-time Beddows said thank you before boarding a mysterious helicopter which was adorned with #mckenzieout #whereisroy

Beddows will be remembered at Milan for 

Played 254

Points 460

Honours - 2x runner up in various competitons

3x winners of Milan Cup

2x winners of Copa del Duomo

READ ON FOR EMOTIONAL SCENES AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

This evening, Thursday 28^th December, (and tomorrow) has been declared a public day of mourning across the whole of Milan and the wider world as the Milan fans bid farewell to Stephen Beddows in a moving public memorial service bigger than that of Princess Diana's, Nelson Mandela's and Winston Churchill's put together.

They gathered in the streets of the Milan in their millions, many were inconsolable with shock at the suddenness of their manager's departure.

Flowers covered Piazza Duomo and the road leading down to Piazza Castello as the great and glorious of T100 arrived for a memorial service in Beddows’ honour. It was Tom Parfitt and Frank Hirst who led the cortege of mourners into the Duomo for the memorial service that was complete with an empty coffin that was to be placed into the vaults of the catherdral. Parfitt looked quite tearful as he read some of the notes on the flowers and took one which he seemed very moved by and took it with him into the Duomo – clutching onto Hirst as he was clearly hit by the emotion of the occasion.

Hirst and Parfitt led the cortege of mouners

Beddows’ empty coffin was bought into the Catherdral by six Milan clad pall bearers, Barzagli, Brooks, Bonadventura, Soriano, Benassi and Lopes – the sextet of players leaning on each other for comfort in their dark hour of need. They placed the empty coffin above an opening vault dating back to the Cathedrals origins of 1386 – Beddows was to be given a fitting resting place alongside the greats of Milan dating back over 900 years.

Many other T100 managers also attended (although some were conspicuous by their absence, DP, Mclean, Dinosaur, the Mckenzie’s amongst many others), Senior arrived with Davy and Mick Hudson – Bob had to be pushed in a wheelchair by Feargal such was his grief – Foster arrived with Reynolds the two of them taking the time to speak to the many fans. Then finally arrived poor Gino – a man clearly so distraught by the occasion that he stood outside the Duomo looking as sad as Scalotti when a deal does not go his way!

Once the memorial service began many of them spoke publicly of their admiration of Beddows...

Silvio spoke fondly of “a great manager,” The Chinese owners spoke something about dogs and ducks and Barbara made a moving speech in a moving speech that whilst "he is gone, he may be back as a true Messiah will always return... but it is unlikely to be on the third day..."

Many T100 managers also contributed with Tom Parfitt speaking first choosing to read out a piece he found attached to one of the millions of flowers outside the Duomo – Parfitt read

"Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is gone,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was Milan’s North, their South, their East and West,
Their working week and their Sunday rest,
Their noon, their midnight, their talk, their song;
They thought that love would last for ever: they were wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good."

Parfitt then had to be helped from the pulpit by Rob Ryan who himself was in floods of tears...

Then the great Frank Hirst came to the stand – never a man to state his opinion of Beddows publicly – but privately one of the greatest backers of the anti-Milan, Beddows and Balotelli movements- yet he said -

"To the rossineri, He is gone,
To the sorrowful, He will never return,
To the angry, He was cheated,
But to the happy, He is at peace,
And to the faithful, He has never left.

He cannot speak, but he can listen.
He cannot be seen, but he can be heard.
So as you stand above Piazza Duomo gazing at his beautiful city . . .
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity . . . .
Remember him.

Remember him in your heart:
Your thoughts, and your memories,
Of the times you loved,
The times you cried,
The times you fought,
The times you  laughed.
For if you always think of Beddows,
He will never have gone."

Hirst like Parfitt could not control his emotions at his great friends departure and this time Nathan Prince came and offered Frank a hand and his handkerchief...

Many other contributors then followed, Bruin, Mark Hewitt and David Marsden all spoke kind words.

And finally one of the chief mourners, Rahul came up to speak and said...

"He shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary him, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We in Milan will remember him."

And then despite being not scheduled to speak at the memorial service Gordon Kinnear took time away from his buses to deliver an unexpected but fitting eulogy...

"Beddows was the glue that held Milan together, never before has a manager been so valued by a club than Beddows at Milan, it was an ingenious appointment - a masterstroke - Beddows and Milan were like 'Cheese and Tomato' 'Pasta and Cheese' and 'Chips and gravy' inseparable!

Like all those before him Gordon Kinnear too had to be helped from the stage as he blew a fair well kiss to Beddows' ‘empty, ceremonial’ Golden Coffin - with Greg Owen of all people helping Gordon to his feet and leading him back to his seat.

Beddows' one true hero in T100 – David Marsden then preceded (also unscheduled) to take the stand declaring his undying love and respect for a manager who has become the most successful in the history of the Italian club.

As the memorial service played out with a brilliant rendition of "Amazing Beddows" followed by "Beddows's on fire all of T100 is terrified" the mourners left in tears, many people needed hospital treatment and others simply refused to leave - not willing to accept the inevitable - that he is gone - gone for now - but never to be forgotten!