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Valencia Aparicio mark respect to fans

He renewed his season ticket in 1994 and kept it until the day he died.

Valencia have paid a brilliant tribute to a blind supporter two years after his death, reports The Daily Mail.

Vicente Aparicio went blind in his 50s due to a detached retina but his inability to see did not stop him visiting the Mestalla to soak up the atmosphere at every home game.

He renewed his season ticket in 1994 and kept it until the day he died. And now, thanks to part of Valencia’s centenary year celebrations, Vicente sits proudly at the Mestalla again.

That is because Valencia, who were formed in 1919, have erected a statue of Vicente inside the stadium. The La Liga club removed his old seat — No 164 in row 15 of the central grandstand — and filled the space with a life-sized figure depicting the loyal fan.

His son has since visited the Mestalla and sat proudly next to the statue of his father.

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