Two and a half years have passed since Cardiff City lost one of its very best. For many people, the best.
Peter Whittingham's tragic passing in March 2020, at the tender age of just 35, devastated not only Bluebirds supporters, but the wider footballing community. Every player or supporter who watched him kick a ball scarcely forgot the magic they had seen in a hurry.
But while football mourned, there was — is — a family at the centre of all this. Peter left behind his wife, Amanda, his son, William, and another little boy, Seb, who was born two months after his father's death. The unfairness of it all is incomprehensible.
When asked how she is doing, Amanda says: "Yeah... I don't really know how to answer that question."
Peter's brother, James, quickly jumps in to say "she has been an absolute hero."
Amanda adds: "I've got my two boys. I'm just grateful for that."
Read more: Peter Whittingham's brother reveals the pain still suffered by his family
Peter and Amanda's eldest, William, is seemingly a chip off the old block, and there is no warmer reminder of Peter for Amanda than watching him play with a football.
"The oldest one, who's four, is his dad's personality to a tee," she says as a smile breaks through. "He loves sports, he is the first one there. He says, 'I am going to be a footballer!' I tell him it takes a lot of work, but he's like, 'oh, I'll be fine!'
"He goes to Tony Capaldi's (coaching sessions), I can't sign him up for enough! Unfortunately he's not left-footed. That was always noted by Pete and he was always trying to encourage him to be! He used to play a lot of football in the hallway with him. We still play those games.
"He just enjoys football like his dad. There are a lot of things that remind me of him."
There can surely be no greater compliment paid to a man than being hard-pressed to hear a bad word said about him.
Along with his nearest and dearest, it is no exaggeration to say Cardiff City supporters were heartbroken when the devastating news dropped on that fateful day of March 19, 2020. But such is the character and spirit of the club and its fans, they offered themselves to the Whittingham family en masse to help in any way they could.
Amanda could, at the very least, take solace in their kindness.
"In the beginning, it is what it is," she says. "But now, since I've come out of it a bit more and getting involved in this match especially, the messages we've received, the donations, people getting in contact in that way which you wouldn't expect, people I don't know personally, it is always lovely. It touches my heart that people would think that much to donate or even just get in touch. It's lovely."
Peter's family members arrive at the Vale Resort to speak about the upcoming match between Cardiff City and Aston Villa, a fixture which will act as a celebration of Peter's life. It is something which has been long in the making thanks to the world flipping on its head during the elapsed period between Peter's death and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The former midfielder is adored by thousands in this little corner of the world for the gifts he brought them during his 457 matches across 11 seasons with Cardiff. Now, all Bluebirds who wish to pay homage to a player — and person — who brought so much joy during his time in the Welsh capital can do so at Cardiff City Stadium when the memorial match takes place on November 30.
"People are aware of the circumstances, the funeral itself was very difficult," Peter's brother James says. "There were only four or five from the family there because of Covid. We never really had the celebration of his life that we wanted.
"Also there is this idea of a legacy for his boys, Amanda and the family, wanting to give back a bit for all the parts of his life he touched while he was alive and benefitted the family in his passing.
"From his school days to Cardiff City, he was always the first to point out that lady luck had shined on him in terms of all that he'd done. That's the idea behind it. It's more of a celebration we are looking to have and to remember all the positives."
- If you want to buy tickets for the Peter Whittingham Memorial Match, you can do so here.
Understandably, the conversation and atmosphere within the room is emotionally charged. Peter's family speak so fondly of their memories with him and, thinking back to their days as kids, James reveals just what it was like to grow up with such a prodigiously talented younger brother.
"It was pretty annoying, actually!" he laughs. "I'm two years older than him to the day and when I was in my last year in school, I think I scored 30 goals and it was a record at the time. Then he scored 100! He shattered all records!
"I think the other thing about Peter which is little known to a certain extent is that he was quite talented in lots of sports. His hand-eye co-ordination, whether it was table tennis or pool, tennis, it was pretty frustrating to grow up with, actually, having this uber-talented youngster in the family!"
He pauses, wipes a tear, and adds: "He was great fun. I was very, very lucky."
The memorial match will raise money for the PW7 Foundation, King Henry VIII School in Coventry and Winston's Wish, the latter being a charity which supports grieving children after the death of a parent. Amanda cannot speak highly enough of it.
"Winston's Wish was a charity I got put in touch with when everything happened," she says. "I had William, who was two and a half at the time, and Seb, who was on the way.
"They are a really great charity who offer services; if you ring them you go directly through to someone who offers help straight away. It's really hard to speak to young children. When they ask questions you've got to have answers immediately.
"It's been a great resource for me to use, with the boys being so young. You never expect to be in this position until you are."
- If you need help with a grieving child or would like to make a donation to Winston's Wish, you can do so here.
The family hope this match, against the club where it all started for him, will really help to kickstart the PW7 Foundation, a charity set up in Peter's name which helps to improve the lives of children across the UK.
James hopes, one day, maybe William and Seb will be able to run it and carry on their father's legacy that way.
"It's about Peter's legacy," James says. "The charities he benefitted from when he was alive, school and Cardiff City, he would be the first to highlight. People will say he gave a lot but he also thought he received a lot. Plus the support we have received from Winston's Wish since his passing.
"Also it's something for the boys to perhaps run one day. One idea I love is for us to start this and for it to have a real life of its own. Hopefully one day the boys can take it over and fly that flag and give back to those good causes."
Former Bluebirds goalkeeper David Marshall, who is also in attendance, was one of Peter's best friends. He just hopes all City fans can help to make it as special an occasion as possible for the Whittingham family on November 30.
"It's a celebration of not only a great player but a great person," he says. "He wouldn't have wanted the fuss! But if anyone is more deserving then I can't think of them.
"For someone so talented, he was so humble and so unassuming. His personality was fantastic and I'm sure it'll be a fantastic night. Memories he has given players, fans, staff here, the night coming up can just be to give his family back some memories that he gave us over the years.
"It'll be amazing for the new generation of Cardiff fans coming through to recognise a great. We are fortunate enough to have social media now and we can all see his goals and try to emulate Peter Whittingham.
"But for the kids, they are very young, but they can always look back at it - it's what he deserved. It'll be a fantastic occasion."
At the game, City fans can expect to see the likes of Stephen McPhail, Anthony Pilkington, Tony Capaldi, Ben Turner, Mark Hudson, David Marshall, Matt Connolly, Ross McCormack and Darren Purse plus a host of others, who will take the pitch at half-time.
On the logistics of the match itself, Cardiff City board member Steve Borley adds: "We want it to be more than just a pre-season friendly and I think Villa do as well. There has been talk about whether some of the ex-players will come along.
"Everything has not been tied up in terms of what will happen on the day. We have the two clubs sorted. The arrangements will chop and change before we play the game. We want to bring a bit of fun into the game.
"But both clubs would like it to be a meaningful game instead of a game where people come on for cameo appearances here and there. We still can recognise the ex-players and allow them to show their respects, but I think he deserves more than just a friendly."
What all parties were keen to stress, though, is that this is not some one-off, flash-in-the-pan game. This will signal the beginning of a legacy as the club and Peter's family hope to ensure his name is never forgotten and he is held as a role model for future generations coming through.
Club director Borley reveals Cardiff have special plans to make Peter front and centre when their new academy complex opens in Llanrumney.
"I think it was important to retire his shirt number," he says. "There is only one person who could wear that shirt and it was the right thing to do. It won't be the only thing we will look to do.
"We would like to have Pete's name enshrined within the academy system, with the permission of Amanda and James. Although the fans are not all kids, what he could have given to the kids would have been something else.
"When they walk in to the new academy building at Llanrumney, the first thing I want them to see is Peter Whittingham."
When asked specifically if it would be called 'The Peter Whittingham academy', he replies: "I don't think we will do that. But having said that I quite like the '7' branding.
"In the House of Sport we tried to create a montage of all the players who have come through our academy. That's something we want to recreate at the new indoor facility.
"We want the kids to come in through those double doors into that barn area and feel they are in a football stadium. The first thing I want to inspire them is Peter Whittingham."
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