Remembering Wayne
Leeds United fans will be given the opportunity to remember one of their own on Saturday at the home game against Oldham Athletic.
A minute’s applause will occur before kick-off in memory of passionate Leeds United supporter Wayne Bland who died in the service of his country in Afghanistan on August 11, 2008.
Wayne was the second Leeds United supporter to be killed in current military operations.
Wayne was a signaller with 16 Signal Regiment and died in a suicide attack on his patrol, along with three civilians. He was on the last week of his tour of duty. He died of his wounds at the military hospital in Kabul. He was the 29th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan this year and the 115th since ops began in 2001.
Aged just 21, Wayne was known as “Blandy’ to his mates and represented the regiment at football.
His family issued a statement, “Wayne was a much-loved son, grandson, brother and uncle who served his country with distinction and sadly paid the ultimate price. He was our true hero.”
His CO Lieutenant Colonel Justin Hodges, said, “Signaller Wayne Bland was a superb soldier, full of character and a highly popular member of the regiment. He joined from training in September 2006 and instantly fitted in.
“It was abundantly clear to everyone who met Wayne that his strength and personality marked him out for a bright future in the Army. His death is a huge tragedy, but he was a committed soldier who understood the risks and the importance of his work, as do his friends and every soldier in the regiment.”
“Wayne was in the last week of his tour and as the Regiment returns to barracks we will mourn his loss.”
Major Neil Coatsworth said: “The physical grief demonstrated throughout the squadron when the terrible news broke bore testament to his popularity. Everybody knew Wayne, and we all knew him to be a fun-loving, occasionally mischievous individual, who always managed a smile no matter what the circumstances.”
The CO of the Kabul Garrison, Lt Col Charlie Lambert of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, said, “Only on the day of his death, I had received a letter from a senior officer whom he had driven two days earlier, saying how particularly impressed he was with the mobile force protection provided and how reassured he had been that their wellbeing was taken care of at every turn. ”
The Telegraph quotes fellow soldiers in the regiment’s Support Squadron describing Wayne as the “leader of the pack”.
The Defence Secretary Des Browne added: “Signaller Bland was the model British soldier, demonstrating bravery and professionalism in every aspect of his work, which was vital to supporting our operations in Afghanistan.”
On Saturday we get the chance to say goodbye to Wayne and I’m sure you will do Wayne proud with your response at one minute before three o’clock.
The club has said that the applause is also for several other Leeds United supporters who have passed away or suffered loss recently. The site mentions lifelong Leeds fan Mark Belshaw and the club’s assistant safety officer Peter Cunnane.
The death of Peter is of personal sadness. Peter worked at Elland Road in various capacities for around forty years and died aged just 62 after a short but devastating illness. But I knew Peter because he worked with my father at Thomas Waides & Sons, printers at Kirkstall in Leeds. He originally trained as a compositor. I spent two summers working there during University holidays in the seventies and remember Peter very well.
My heart goes out to his family at his untimely death and I know my father was greatly saddened by the news.
So on Saturday at 3 o’clock I shall have a lot to remember as I’m sure will many Leeds fans.
