Bristol City fans banded together in touching display support of their side’s manage Liam Manning who lost his son Theo shortly after he was born earlier this month
Football fans gave their manager a giant message of support yesterday when he returned to work after the death of his baby son.
Bristol City boss Liam Manning took a leave of absence when he lost little Theo shortly after his birth earlier this month.
He was greeted with a tribute in the club’s red and white and a minute’s applause for Theo before the game against Leeds.
Section 82 member, James Ewing said the display spanned the Dolman and South Stands of Ashton Gate Stadium. Fans held up red or white sheets after a minute’s applause for Theo.
“[It’s] the biggest thing that we’ve tried to pull off together,” Ewing said. “Certainly the most worthy cause I suppose you might say.” On Friday Liam thanked fans for their “touching” tributes in a letter.
Interim boss, Chris Hogg said the fans did a “tremendous job” showing their support. “There’s definitely been that emotion in the air and rightly so in supporting the family,” he said. It’s such a unique situation when something so close to your heart and somebody who is so close to your heart is going through what they’re going through.”
Manning described the ordeal as the most difficult time of his and his family’s lives. In a letter to fans, he outlined how “touching” it was to see memorials at matches since his son’s death. I’m so proud they were to be able to share Theo’s name,” he said.
The manager signed off by thanking fans “from the bottom of my heart”.
