GARY Speed’s widow has suffered fresh heartache after her new husband died of brain cancer.
Louise, 52, married property developer Quinton Bird, 53, after football manager Gary took his life 11 years ago.
A family source told MailOnline that he had brain cancer for more than two years.
His dad Roy said the family were “devastated” to lose him.
He added that Quinton was a “wonderful” dad and left him and wife Jenny was left with “beautiful and extraordinary memories”.
Louise and divorced dad-of-three Quinton married just over a year ago.
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But tragically he succumbed an aggressive form of brain tumour just six months later.
The couple had been business partners for six years as directors of new build and renovation firm Bow Property Development in Chester.
Guests at Louise and Quinton’s wedding in Cheshire included former England captain Alan Shearer, who was close friends with Gary.
The pair fell in love after Louise struggled in the aftermath of Gary’s death, admitting she struggled to get off the sofa and was left with unanswered questions over his suicide.
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Mum-of-two Louise was left heartbroken after Welsh football star Speed took his own life on November 27, 2011, aged just 42.
She previously opened up about Speed’s death, admitting she felt anger at first and often doubted if she could forgive him for taking his life.
She also described the tragedy as the “worst nightmare possible”.
Louise said: “Have I forgiven Gary? I ask myself this often. Can I? Have I? Will I?
“I don’t know. I have witnessed the hurt he has caused to his family and friends, particularly his boys and his mum and dad and myself.
“The void he has left within us all. So I don’t know. I just don’t know if I have forgiven him yet or not. But of course I want to.
“The anger has only just subsided and that is part of it. I was angry with him for a long time but that also kept me strong, if you know what I mean? It’s when I released that anger that I felt a little bit vulnerable.”
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
Speed and Louise were childhood sweethearts, going on their first date aged 15.
They married during his spell with Leeds before stints at Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.
He retired with the Blades in 2010 and took over as manager before taking the reins of the Welsh national team.
Speed was still the Wales gaffer when he died aged 42.
Louise found her husband hanged in their garage on a Sunday morning, after appearing on BBC Football Focus and going out to dinner with friends the previous day.
A letter Speed wrote to his then-girlfriend Louise aged 17 expressed how he felt ”so depressed’.
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He wrote: “I’m just going to go to sleep now and hope I never wake up.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
