Mark Philo
Encyclopedia
Mark William Philo was an English
professional footballer. He was born in Bracknell
, Berkshire
and spent his whole professional career at Wycombe Wanderers
. He died on 14 January 2006 in a road traffic collision.
and Crystal Palace
. He made his debut for the Wycombe first team in February 2004 under Tony Adams
and signed a contract until the summer of 2005, which was extended to June 2007 by John Gorman
. He played 17 matches for the club's first team.
veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into a Renault Megane
driven by 58-year-old Patricia Gammon at the junction of Sandhurst Road and Finchampstead Road in Wokingham
, Berkshire
at about 1:20am. Philo was rushed to Royal Berkshire Hospital
in Reading
, Berkshire, and died at around 4:20pm.
His manager, John Gorman, paid tribute to him by saying, "He was a fantastic kid. He lived for football and always had a smile on his face."
The Wycombe players held up a banner for Philo after their League Cup
game against Chelsea
at Adams Park
.
PC Andrew Bryant, the collision investigation officer, confirmed that Mark Philo's car was on the wrong side of the road when the smash happened. He said: "The blame in this collision appears to lie with the driver of the Vauxhall Astra. Excess alcohol and driving over the centre of the road were contributing factors. As soon as you exceed the alcohol limit your ability to drive is significantly impaired."
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer. He was born in Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and spent his whole professional career at Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
. He died on 14 January 2006 in a road traffic collision.
Career
Philo joined Wycombe at the age of 15, having been on the books of both West HamWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. He made his debut for the Wycombe first team in February 2004 under Tony Adams
Tony Adams (footballer)
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former player.Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal. He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans and was included in the Football League 100 Legends...
and signed a contract until the summer of 2005, which was extended to June 2007 by John Gorman
John Gorman (footballer)
John Gorman is a Scottish former football player and coach. He is currently Assistant Manager at MK Dons in the English League One....
. He played 17 matches for the club's first team.
Injury
Philo suffered two broken ankles in consecutive years reducing the games he play for the club severely, first a broken right ankle then a hairline fracture to his left leg at in pre-season game before the 2005/6 season. Philo was only weeks away from a first team start when he died.Death
Mark Philo died on 14 January 2006 after sustaining serious head injuries in a road traffic collision after his silver Vauxhall AstraVauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into a Renault Megane
Renault Mégane
The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...
driven by 58-year-old Patricia Gammon at the junction of Sandhurst Road and Finchampstead Road in Wokingham
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
at about 1:20am. Philo was rushed to Royal Berkshire Hospital
Royal Berkshire Hospital
The Royal Berkshire Hospital is a National Health Service hospital in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It provides acute hospital services to the residents of the western and central portions of Berkshire, and is managed by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.The...
in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire, and died at around 4:20pm.
His manager, John Gorman, paid tribute to him by saying, "He was a fantastic kid. He lived for football and always had a smile on his face."
The Wycombe players held up a banner for Philo after their League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Adams Park
Adams Park
Adams Park is a football stadium in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It is the home ground of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. and the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club London Wasps...
.
Inquiry
Later investigations revealed Philo was significantly over the drink-drive limit after drinking in the Golden Retriever pub in Wokingham, from 8.30pm until closing time. Philo and two friends then drove to look for another bar to continue drinking and ended up at The Gig House, where they stayed drinking for another hour. According to an eyewitness, Philo was travelling above the speed limit when he veered on to the wrong side of the road and into Gammon's Megane and then a telegraph pole, where he suffered horrific injuries resulting in his death 15 hours later. Gammon a mother of two was killed instantly.PC Andrew Bryant, the collision investigation officer, confirmed that Mark Philo's car was on the wrong side of the road when the smash happened. He said: "The blame in this collision appears to lie with the driver of the Vauxhall Astra. Excess alcohol and driving over the centre of the road were contributing factors. As soon as you exceed the alcohol limit your ability to drive is significantly impaired."