Published: Tuesday, 30th June, 2009 11:00am

Tribute to Guido

by Mike Farrell

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Sons players will wear captain’s name on shirts

THE memory of late Sons captain Gordon Lennon will be carried by Dumbarton"s players onto the pitch next season.

Gordon"s name will adorn all of the team"s home shirts, as a tribute to the popular 26-year-old.

There are also plans to erect pictures of the skipper on the walls of Strathclyde Homes Stadium (SHS), so that Gordon - known as Guido - will be fittingly remembered.

The Sons team is trying to get back to normality following the shock death of Gordon while on a family holiday in Inverness on June 7.

The squad has just started to train again, after Guido was laid to rest on June 17.

Gilbert Lawrie, chief executive of Dumbarton, said that all at the club were coming together in memory of the dad-of-one.

He told the Reporter: 'Life at SHS is now beginning to return to some form of reality as we all begin to try to come to terms with life without Guido.

'A week past on Friday some of his family returned to the stadium to help remove the tremendous memorial display of flowers, photos, cards, scarves and shirts which had been left by family, friends, colleagues and supporters from Dumbarton and other clubs.

'With the players returning the following day for an informal kick about the stadium looked empty without the tributes, but after a session playing football for fun - the Guido way - life started to return to the dressing room and beyond.'

He added: 'Meanwhile the club will continue to assist Gordon"s family as much as we can and will continue to seek out ways and means of honouring him and remembering him at every opportunity.

'As has been discussed already, his family will unfurl the Third Division Championship flag and will also attend the two pre-season friendlies against Partick Thistle and St Mirren.

'We have been inundated with letters of condolence from amongst others [FIFA President] Sepp Blatter, the Scottish First Minister, both the local MP and MSP, and too many to name from the world of football, though I know the family were delighted to receive a personal letter from Sir Alex Ferguson.'

Alan Findlay, secretary of the Sons Supporters Trust, said that group welcomed the tribute, and hoped that the memorial committee, set-up by fan Robert Ryan, will help Guido"s family.