Father of drowned fan ‘touched’ by Uefa gesture

The father of the young man who drowned in Poland while supporting the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2012 has said he is “touched” by next month’s proposed gesture of support from the FAI and Uefa.

Uefa president Michel Platini will travel to Dublin for the Nov 14 friendly against Greece at the Aviva Stadium to present a special fans’ award, which will be accepted by the family of Co Wicklow man, James Nolan.

The award has been dedicated by the FAI and Irish supporters to the memory of the 21-year-old Blessington fan who lost his life while supporting Giovanni Trapattoni’s men in Poland. He drowned after falling into a river in the city of Bydgoszcz.