By Rob Cole
Gareth Bale & co may have been dominating the hearts and minds of Welsh sports fans with their efforts in Qatar, but Cardiff City will grab the limelight on Wednesday night when the club hosts a special tribute match to honour one of their all-time greats.
Peter Whittingham was at the heart of everything that was good about the Bluebirds for more than a decade, a period during which the club reached a League Cup final, a Play-off Final, an FA Cup Final and, finally, the promised land of the Premier League.
His achievements and statistics – 96 goals in 457 games – will stand the test of time, especially in the ultra-professional modern era.
More importantly, his spirt is still alive at the club, despite his tragic and untimely accidental death at the age of 35 two and a half years ago.
The club decided to retire his No 7 jersey this season, his family set-up ‘The PW7 Foundation’ in his name and his memory lives on. Everyone at Cardiff City loved Pete, but nobody more than his wife, Amanda, and sons Willliam and Seb.
William was only two and a half when his father died. Now his mum plays football in the passage with him instead of his dad.
As for Zeb, he only arrived two months after his dad had passed away following a slip down eight steps on an outside staircase leading to a beer garden at a pub in Barry.
He hit his head and was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, where he was put on a life support machine. He died of a subdural haematoma on 18 March.
Of course, we remember Peter Whittingham tonight. But it should also be noted that a year ago today, Bluebirds legend and record appearance-maker Phil ‘Joe’ Dwyer passed away aged 68.
Both legends. Both rightly have banners permanently in situ at Cardiff City Stadium. pic.twitter.com/iujp8AufnL
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) November 30, 2022
He had been out with his brother-in-law watching on TV the Wales v England Six Nations rugby match 11 days earlier.
A simple slip on an otherwise enjoyable day out ended the life of one of the greatest players to represent his adopted home city side.
Wednesday night’s game will give Pete’s boys the chance to learn about how good their dad was on the football field and hear how much the fans and his teammates thought about him.
Aston Villa, the club at which he won the FA Youth Cup before making 66 first team appearances, will be the opposition this week for a game that will be both poignant and passionate.
“We were pleased to get Aston Villa to come and play against us because that was his Pete’s first club. We never really understood why they let him go,” said Steve Borley, the vice-chairman of Cardiff City.
“When we went to Aston Villa, the reception he got from the fans there was absolutely incredible. You’d have thought he’d just left there – that was the day I realised he was a true great.
“He was a great entertainer. He never scored tap ins, virtually every goal he scored was a worldie. If he had Messi on his back you wouldn’t have been surprised, that was the quality he brought.”
Among other career highlights, he made his Premier League debut for Villa as a teenager, won 17 England U21 caps, was named in the 2015 in the Championship team of the decade and in his last year in junior school he more than doubled his elder brother, James’, goal tally record by scoring 100.
It was James who was one of the driving forces behind the setting-up of the PW7Foundation, which he and the family hope will perpetuate Pete’s name and provide a proper legacy for a player who provided so much joy for so many people. All proceeds from the game are going to the Foundation, which is initially helping three key institutions.
The Cardiff City FC Foundation uses money provide by PW& to pay for coaching for youngsters across the city, Pete’s old school, King Henry VII, Coventry, has a bursary set-up in his name to support disadvantaged children achieve their potential, while the support provided to the Winston’s Wish charity is far more personal to his wife, Amanda, and his boys.
“Willam was two and a half at the time when Pete died and Zeb was on the way. It didn’t know how to tell them what had happened or how to explain things, so I got in touch with Winston’s Wish,” said Amanada.
“They provide support to people like me and give advice about what to say to your children when they ask questions about their dad. You have to have answers straight away and they helped me to get to a place where it was easier to talk about things.
“I’m happy with how they have taken it and how they are developing with their dad not being around. That’s partly due to the advice they gave me, which has been really helpful. The people on the other end of the phone are people who once used their services and then trained to become counsellors themselves.
“Nobody ever expects to be in that position. There is a lot you worry about in the beginning, but I was able to pick up the phone and discuss with like-minded people what to do next. It was very easy and very helpful.
“Getting to this point is beyond what I ever imagined. Now I’ve come out of the grieving process a bit more, I’m better able to appreciate the messages of support from fans and friends. It has been lovely being able to read messages, and to receive donations, from people who I don’t know, but who loved Pete.
“It has touched my heart that so many people have been willing to get in touch, get involved and donate to the foundation. I spoke to a lot of people who said they wanted to celebrate his life, and this memorial math gives everyone who wants to join in the chance to come and help us remember Pete.
“The oldest one is four and has his dad’s personality to a T. He loves sport, I don’t even have to encourage him and is always the first one there. He keeps telling me he wants to be a footballer and I tell him how much hard work it takes.
“Pete used to play a lot of football with William, who is now four, in the hallway at home and we still keep up those games. He just enjoys his football and there are a lot of things about him that remind me of Pete – he has his dad’s personality to a ‘T’.
“Pete used to say he never wanted him to go into football, but sport is what he enjoys. At least I’ve got my two boys.”
💙#PW7Foundation | @CardiffCityFC pic.twitter.com/BZcPnLxpxr
— Peter Whittingham Foundation (@PW7foundation) November 30, 2022
For Pete’s elder brother, James, the celebration of his life will bring some closure after the tragic loss was followed by a funeral to which only five family members were permitted to attend due to Covid restrictions. Thousands are expected on Wednesday night.
“It will be an amazing occasion for Amanda and the two boys, as well as for a new generation of Cardiff City fans, who will be able to recognise how great he was. The boys are still very, very young, but they will be able to remember the day his dad got the tribute he deserved,” said James.
The Peter Whittingham Memorial Match, Wednesday, 30 November
Cardiff City Stadium (7.00pm kick-off)
Cardiff City v Aston Villa