Rio Ferdinand: Support from fans of former clubs was 'overwhelming' after my wife died, says QPR star

 
'Overwhelmed': Rio Ferdinand with his late wife Rebecca Ellison (Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA)
Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Ramzy Alwakeel24 May 2015

Rio Ferdinand has spoken of the "overwhelming" support he got from fans of his former clubs after his wife's tragic death earlier this month.

The grieving Queen's Park Rangers centre-back told the Sun Rebecca Ellison's death from breast cancer had sparked "the most difficult period of my life".

But the 36-year-old was cheered when fans from his former clubs including West Ham - which he left in 2000 - sent him good wishes, he added.

"It has been the most difficult period of my life, what with managing the emotions of our three children and watching such a great woman as my wife Rebecca die without being able to do anything about it," he wrote in the newspaper.

"After Rebecca died, we held a service on a lovely sunny day, which was arranged to perfection.

"Rebecca was an organisational freak and planned much of it herself while the kids picked the music.

"She wanted it to be celebration of her life rather than a morbid occasion - and it went just the way she would have liked."

Happier times: The couple pictured in 2009 (Picture: Ian West/PA)
Ian West/PA

Manchester United and Liverpool fans also lined up to wish him well after the tragedy. Ms Ellison, 34, lost her battle with cancer on May 2 - an illness she had only told close friends and family about.

"The day it was announced the Rebecca had died, we were overwhelmed by messages of support," Mr Ferdinand added.

"The kids saw it all and were telling me: 'Look, Dad, have you seen what they are doing for Mum?'

"It was refreshing to see such compassion in the game, with tribalism removed."

Despite the respect shown by many, a handful of sick online "trolls" taunted the star in the hours after Ms Ellison's death was announced.

Fans expressing solidarity with Chelsea star John Terry - once accused of racism by Ferdinand's brother - described her passing as "karma".

Ferdinand and Terry, who played dozens of games together during a formidable partnership in the centre of England's defence, no longer speak.

Ms Ellison is survived by Mr Ferdinand and their three children Lorenz, nine, Tate, six, and Tia, four.

The football star added he felt "guilty" about not being able to play a full part in QPR's season, during which they were relegated from the Premier League.

Other players at the club were not told why he was unavailable for selection because of the privacy of his wife's illness, he said.

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