Dying fan blasts Bristol City and inspires crucial League One win

A DYING football fan invited into the dressing room read his team the riot act – and inspired them to a crucial win.

Mark Saunders right and manager Steve Cotterill before the game Mark Saunders, right, and manager Steve Cotterill before the game [SWNS]

Lifelong Bristol City fan Mark Saunders, 54, was attending his last game at the weekend as terminal lung cancer claims his life.

His brother Bill, 53, arranged through a friend for Mark to visit the dressing room to meet the League One strugglers.

Mark took the opportunity to give players a tongue lashing for their recent poor form – and delivered an emotional speech which left players choking back tears.

He told them how “privileged” they were and how a “last” win would fulfil his dying wish.

The rousing pre-match team talk inspired the players to a 2-1 win over Gillingham – lifting them out of the relegation zone with only their third win this year.

Bill, from Bristol, said: “Mark said he was going to speak to them and I told him he better ask the manager.

“He marched in and manager Steve Cotterill was at the front with his clip board and he tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he could speak to the team. He said yes, and Mark just went for it. It was brilliant.

“He said he had followed the club for 30 years and had gone through some scrapes as a fan.

“He said people travelled all over the country to follow and support them and it was a pity the players weren’t fighting like the fans are.

“He told them how privileged they all are. He said, ‘I’ve walked past your flash cars in the car park, I know how much you get paid, you should remember how lucky you are’.”

The team were apparently stunned into silence before they burst into applause.

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Speaking after the match, Steve Cotterill said his players had been firmly put in their place. He said: “He wanted to have a little chat with the players as he didn’t feel he was going to see next Friday out, which puts football into a bit of perspective.

“We were quite choked in the dressing room.

“It was more or less his dying wish that he wanted three points today. It was tough, it’s quite emotional just thinking about it.”

Bill, an electrical wholesaler, said: “I just wanted to make it a special day for him and I think it was.”

Married Mark was diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year.

His brother Ken died at 57 from cancer of the oesophagus last December and weeks later Mark was told the disease had spread to his brain and was terminal. The father of three grown-up sons with wife Wendy, is splitting his time between the family home in Bristol and a hospice.

In the past few days the disease has robbed him of his speech.

Ahead of the game, Bill posted on Facebook fan sites an invitation to all Mark’s friends to meet them in a number of pubs before the game.

More than 500 people turned up to share a drink with their pal before they joined him for his trip to Ashton Gate – for the last time.

Bill added: “It was very emotional, but then the last months have been like that.”

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