Covid claims life of former Notts player
RICHARD NEWTON’S HEARTBROKEN BROTHER URGES PEOPLE TO STICK TO LOCKDOWN RULES
THE brother of a “warm and gentle” dad-of-two who played for Notts County in his youth has paid tribute to him after he died from Covid at the age of 40.
Richard Newton, who lived in Sandiacre with his wife Steena and their two children, Riley, 14, and Maisie, 10, died as a result of coronavirus on January 16.
His heartbroken brother Paul, 37, said he had battled the virus for just under a week at home, before he was sent to Royal Derby Hospital where he spent seven days on a ventilator before passing away.
Richard’s funeral was held at Bramcote Crematorium on Tuesday, the day of his 41st birthday.
Paul spoke to the Post to urge people to stick to the rules during lockdown, having lost his brother at such a young age.
“When my brother passed away my mum, Marie, was in hospital with Covid as well,” he said.
“So I had to kit up into scrubs and put a big helmet on. I sat there and I had to break my mum’s heart and tell her that Richard had died while she was in hospital.
“Until you see it first-hand you have no idea. You have got people out there who do not believe Covid exists, but until it affects you, you do not realise how it takes people away so quickly and how it affects your family.
“We got the phone call on a Saturday morning. They said they they had struggled to even ventilate him. My dad got the call at 4pm to say that there was nothing more they could do for him. They gave them 45 minutes to sit with him and hold his hand before they eased him off the oxygen.”
Paul, who lives in Stapleford, said his brother had been a “prolific striker” when he played for Notts County.
While his prosperous football career never materialised, Richard worked at East Midlands Airport, HMP Nottingham as a prison officer and eventually became a security guard for Rolls-royce.
Paul described him as a “hard worker” who left HMP Nottingham after 12 years to focus on his family, before marrying Steena in 2018. He was a marshmallow in a steel cage,” Paul added.
“Richard deserves the recognition he never had in football. He was proud of his family.”
The Magpies’ honorary club historian, Mick Chappell, paid tribute to Richard, who had the nickname ‘Newts’ when he played for the club. Mr Chappell said he started playing for the team at the age of 12, and was even selected for the England under-15 trials at Lilleshall.
He said his goal-scoring talents “set him apart from most of the starry-eyed youngsters”.
During the England trials it was deemed Richard was “too much of an individual” to fit into the team, but he eventually signed with Notts on a youth scholarship.
One of his highs at the time included netting a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at Villa Park in the first round of the 1997 FA Youth Cup.
Mr Chappell says he had bagged 22 goals in 25 appearances by the end of the 1997/98 season, inspired by his newfound best mate Craig Dudley, and together they became known as “the twins”.
However, a pro contract never materialised due to disagreements with the boss and Richard eventually left for non-league football with Blackstone Stamford and then Alfreton Town, where he suffered a career-ending injury in 2000.
Mr Chappell added: “We must look to the future and ensure that Richard’s death does not go unnoticed by those who think that Covid-19 is at best a sick joke and at worst a pandemic that kills the elderly and infirm whilst leaving young and apparently healthy people to put others at risk by carrying on as if there is nothing to worry about.
“Rest in peace Newts. You will never be forgotten because you created so many special memories for so many people.”
Richard’s family have set up a fundraiser to help raise funds for the Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity and NHS staff in the ICU which cared for him.