Minute of applause planned at Burnley FC game for fan who died of cancer

Lee Ellison is asking Burnley Football Club fans to take part in the applause at this Saturday’s game against Swansea City, which kicks off at Turf Moor at 3pm.

This will be in memory of his good friend, David Walsh, who died of cancer on Sunday, October 9, aged 48.

David was a devoted Burnley fan who held a season ticket for more than 25 years.

Lee said: “He’s a really big Burnley fan. He even went to every away game up until he got really ill.”

David Walsh (Image: Lee Ellison)

Burnley FC has already agreed to put a tribute and picture of David up at halftime and include the tribute in the match day programme.

Now, Lee wants to go a step further and organise a minute of applause in the 48th minute of the game, the age David was when he died.

The request has already been widely shared on Twitter with Burnley celebrity and Clarets fan, Jordan North, sharing it to his 730,000 followers.

Lee said: “All we can do is put it out there on Twitter and Facebook and see if the Burnley community can get behind it.

“The Burnley fans are a real community and so many people have been trying to spread the message.

“Hopefully it picks up and he can get a round of applause on the 48th minute.

“Even if that doesn’t work he will still have his picture up on the screen, which is a tribute that David will be really chuffed about.”

Lee said it would “mean everything” if fans in the 20,000-capacity stadium could take part.

He said: “If the clap goes ahead it will mean everything and I think it would be incredible. I think David would massively appreciate it.

“Already, so many people have shared my Twitter status. It shows what a fantastic community Burnley FC is.”

David was diagnosed with throat cancer around four years ago. He faced a hard battle with the disease as it spread to other parts of his body.

Lee said he was “one of the kindest people you could ever come across” and dedicated his life to looking after his parents including his mum, who died three years ago, and his dad who has dementia. 

Lee said: “In the days before he died, he wasn't worried about himself. 

"All he was worried about was that he hadn’t bought us all Christmas presents, that is just the person he was.”

“He fought these cancers for several years. The heart-breaking thing is that he was just a lovely person and he just kept getting knocked back with the various diagnoses."

The Burnley versus Swansea City game will take place on Saturday at 3pm.