Applause for Petrov

[dave.woodhall]

Great idea PWS.

Both DW's OP and PWS's further post at the head of P3 refer to 'after 19 minutes'. However, the OS refers to 'in the 19th minute'. Which is it to be?

Let's see what happens.

[PeterWithesShin]

My thoughts were it should start 19:00 into the game.   

[UK Redsox]

Just tried to join the FB group and couldn't. Then I noticed that Leeg had already added me in earlier.

[DR PETERS]

Living in Australia, I have just woken to this shocking news.
The applause in the 19th minute is a fantastic idea, hope the Chelsea fans join in. During the rest of the game I hope all the singing is about Stan. What about a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, I know its associated with Liverpool but its also a Celtic anthem, think it would mean a lot to Stan to here the fans of his current club signing the anthem of his old club for him. Scarfs aloft signing load would be fantastic

Maybe a few Celtic scarfs in the crowd too, I have no allegiance to Celtic just think its a nice way to show support for Stan

[Clampy]

It's a lovely idea and very fitting.

[cheltenhamlion]

If you aren't sure what to do, and when tomorrow, don't worry. Just follow me or someone sat near you.

[joe_c]

Good work Lee, Dave and PWS. Will continue to tweet the details periodically.

[Singapore Villa]

Great idea.  I will join in from my sofa - I know it's not the same but I am pretty sure I will be emotional watching it on TV.

[Desi]

Great idea.  I will join in from my sofa - I know it's not the same but I am pretty sure I will be emotional watching it on TV.

Me too, also down under. 

Will be with you all in spirit.

[F. Austin Purcell]

It's just been announced on sky news so hopefully they will keep that on the loop till more people wake up to see it.
Stilliyan Petrov's claret and blue army is a good suggestion from another site. I remember other versions of that lasting a whole half years ago.

[Disco01]

I was and still an shocked about this news. I too shall be watching from my sofa down under. Let's hope it unites everybody and we all pull together and get behind our skipper.

[olaftab]

Yes great idea.


Stiliyan Petrov in profile: From burger van to Aston Villa's captain

By Mike Henson
BBC Sport
When Martin O'Neill took charge of Aston Villa in August 2006, his first move in the transfer market was to recruit Stiliyan Petrov, a player he had worked with at previous club Celtic.
The Bulgarian, then 27, had developed into one of the most influential players in the Scottish game, winning four league championships in his seven seasons at the club.
Despite a slow start in the Premier League, his ceaseless industry garnered the respect of his team-mates and was rewarded with a steady improvement in his form.
When it was announced on Friday that he had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia, he had become the captain of Alex McLeish's Villa side and one of the club's, and league's, most consistent performers.
WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA?
Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells. Symptoms include pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness and susceptibility to infection. Acute leukaemia means the condition progresses aggressively and needs immediate treatment.

On average 2,500 adults are diagnosed with acute leukaemia in the UK each year, according to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

The midfielder's low-key qualities have also been valued by a series of international managers as he surpassed more extravagantly talented players such as Hristo Stoichkov and Dimitar Berbatov as his country's most capped player.
The first of his 106 caps came as a 19-year-old in March 1999, just as his performances for CSKA Sofia were attracting the attention of then Celtic boss John Barnes.
Petrov had broken into the first team of his hometown club Montana at the age of 15, but he initially found it hard to adjust to life in Scotland following a £2m move.
Such was his determination to learn English however that he took to working in a friend's burger van  as a way to pick up the language and his fortunes turned as O'Neill deployed him in his more familiar central midfield role.
In addition to his four titles, Petrov won the Scottish Cup and League Cup three times apiece at Celtic and was part of the team beaten by Jose Mourinho's Porto in the 2003 Uefa Cup final, but he grew eager to test himself elsewhere.

[BoredNow]

I was confused about the timings. The 19th minute starts when the clock hits 18, so if we're applauding for the whole of the 19th minute it should be then.

[Percy McCarthy]

Keep it simple, start when the clock display ticks to 19. It's the number that is relevant, 19 rather than nineteenth.

[ozzjim]

This is a brilliant idea and a lovely gesture of real significance and thought. 19 on the clock would be the best time, hopefully when the clock does show 19 it will come up big on the screen so all fans take their lead from it.