Fans pay tribute as new 'talking bench' installed in footballer's memory, 14 years after he took his own life, in a bid to help others
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
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Gary Speed’s mum made an emotional visit to Everton yesterday to attend the launch of a ‘talking bench’ in memory of her son. Carol Speed watched as the seat was unveiled - 14 years after her son tragically died.
She was joined by former Everton and Chelsea star Graham Stuart who played alongside Speed at Goodison Park. Talking benches have been introduced across the UK as a simple but powerful way to encourage conversation, tackle loneliness and isolation, and signpost people to mental health support.
They offer a space where individuals can pause, speak openly, or simply sit alongside others without judgment.
Carol Speed mother of Gary Speed lays a wreath in tribute to the former player before the Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Carol Speed mother of Gary Speed lays a wreath in tribute to the former player before the Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on November 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jon Super/Everton FC)
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Stuart said: "Gary's bench is a great opportunity for people to sit down and talk and to discuss things. Even if it's just a general conversation, because all of a sudden you realise that you share the same issues and problems and thought processes.. That's the whole idea of the bench, and credit to the Fans' Forum.
“There will be trained mental health staff available at the bench and every matchday moving forward they will be around as a support system so that if anybody does feel the need to speak, or learn about the support available, they can."
The new Gary Speed Memorial Bench
The new Gary Speed Memorial Bench
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David Wycherley, vice chair of the Everton Fans’ Forum who proposed the idea of the bench explained the motivation behind the idea. "We wanted to create a bench in Gary's memory," he said. "Because his story teaches us a lesson that we can't ignore. He was the strongest of us, a former captain of many of the teams that he played for. As we know, football does bring people together. It starts the chat.
"But often it's the most important words that go unspoken. So our hope is that the bench will be a marker for people and a reminder of Gary's story and what a great man he was.
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
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Hopefully it will remind people to slow down, to check in with each other and to talk and just ask that extra question about how people are getting on in life.
But also to listen as well. Sometimes it's just as important to be that listening ear for the people around you." The bench was unveiled outside the Hill Dickinson Stadium and unveiled before the visit of Newcastle United, who Gary also represented with distinction.
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
Football legend Gary Speed who has just had a 'talking bench' installed in his memory
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It includes information signposting members of the public to professional mental health support services and crisis resources. The plaque reads: “IN MEMORY OF GARY SPEED, EVERTONIAN, CAPTAIN, LEADER 1969–2011. A place for what is often unspoken. A place to sit, share and listen.”
Speed was only 42 years old when he was found dead by his wife Louise at their Huntington home in Chester on November 27, 2011.
The former Wales manager died by suicide, leaving behind two young sons as well as his devastated wife.
Earlier this year Wales manager Craig Bellamy opened up about the mental health struggles he went through after the death of his friend.
He revealed in an interview on the High Performance Podcast he initially resisted the idea of therapy, which was suggested by a club doctor. He said: "One or two people were speaking to psychologists and it was like, 'Who does that? What's it going to do, make you play better?'
"That's the mindset. It wasn't until later on when certain instances happened that made you reflect and look at yourself and think, 'Where am I going? What's my world going to be like because this is going to end?
"'This game is going to end for me whether we like it or not, I ain't playing anymore.' It was like, 'I've got a big chunk of my life to live. How do I want to live that? I need to start having a real serious look at myself.'"