BROTHERS in arms Marc and Paul Richardson got more than they bargained for when they resolved to make a personal tribute to Marc Vivien Foe.

The pair were so upset by the death of City's loan midfielder that they decided to travel to Paris for the Confederations Cup final to join with football's extended family in paying their respects to the 28-year-old Cameroon World Cup star.

Along with girlfriends Melissa Baxter and Wendy Harland, the brothers set off from home in Holcombe Brook near Bury in their City number 23 shirts and immediately found themselves the centre of attention at the stadium in Paris.

They were spotted by Foe's agent Willie McKay who invited them into his VIP box to watch the game and were amazed to be on the end of a one-to-one thank you message from Blues boss Kevin Keegan.

Trainee teacher and part-time singer Marc, whose family are all City season ticket holders and who, with band Supra, recorded the version of Blue Moon that is played before all Blues' home games, took up the story.

"We were watching the Cameroon versus Columbia match on the television when Marc Vivien Foe collapsed and like everyone else at first we thought he had just fainted and would recover quickly," he said.

"When the news came through that he had died we were shattered and stunned and decided there and then that we would go and represent City fans at the final.

Solemn

"We had shirts already and we had `23 Foe' put on them and flew over to the final. Before the game there was an atmosphere surrounding the stadium that is still impossible to describe. It was solemn but not in a macabre way with people intent on celebrating Marc's life and career.

"There were a large number of Cameroon supporters at the game and a lot of French fans with Foe's name on their shirts. We attracted a great deal of attention and people just wanted to talk about Marco with us. It was extremely emotional.

"While we were walking around and taking photographs a lad spotted us and asked us where we were from and if we had tickets for the game. He then asked us if we would like to meet Willie McKay - the lad was his son.

"We were delighted to talk to Willie and he invited us into his box to watch the game. He thought it was great that some City fans had taken the trouble to attend the game.

"We gave our tickets away to a Cameroon family and watched the game from the box. At the start of extra time, Willie handed the phone to me and Kevin Keegan was on the line.

"He thanked us for showing what great fans City have and talked about Marc and what a huge loss he will be to football."

City fans have set up a Memorial Appeal designed to raise money to help continue the youth football projects that Foe had planned for the Cameroon.

Supporters worldwide have already donated to the fund that is based at PO Box 2038, Watford WD25 7XZ.

Donations can be made by post to the above address or to the MVF Memorial Appeal at the HSBC Bank, sort code 40 25 23, account number 81426591.

You can aslo contribute by credit card / debit card to the fund online at: http://www.marcvivienfoe.org/

Read the tributes made by ManchesterOnline readers to Marc-Vivian Foe, and add your own here

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