Football club formed in tragic man’s memory
A GROUP of friends have formed a football club in memory of a young Cardiff man who died in May.
Mark Anderson, 22, died suddenly on May 27, following an incident in woodland near Trelai Park.
In the weeks after his death the communities of Ely and Caerau turned out in force to celebrate a man described as “the best person you could ever meet”.
Now, after a memorial match played in his honour, friends of the “lovable rogue” have reunited once more to form their own side to keep his memory going.
Harrison Stratford, secretary of the newly formed Chuffy’s Ely FC, said: “We have 25 to 30 players who want to join the side.
“They’re all friends of Mark so we wanted to get the club together to keep his legacy going.
“Every single player will all have a different story and different experience with him and that’s how it was. “Everyone he met he had time for.” A former pupil at Glyn Derw High School, Mark was known as “Chuffy” to friends thanks to his “happy” and “lovable” attitude.
Today the badge of the football club set up in his name sports the things he loved most in life – including camping and the great outdoors.
Harrison, 22, said: “He was just the one friend you could always rely on.
“He always wanted to do stuff. He was never one to sit inside, he would be out playing football.
“He was such a nice kid – anything you wanted he would do, he would give you his last pound.”
Speaking in June, Mark’s uncle, Anthony Nurton, described his nephew as a “lovable, respectful, young man”.
He said: “He would always stop and chat and make time for anyone, whether it was his mates, family, or even strangers he just met.
“He will be severely missed but never forgotten. I would like to thank all his friends – they have been our rocks through this tough time. The love they have shown has been next level.
“The community of Ely and Caerau has come together like nothing I have seen before in 33 years of living here, it’s been outstanding, and I would like to thank each and every person involved from my heart.”
Harrison, who has set up the club with coaches Zac Grima and Lenard Barrate, said: “Since we played the charity match and got the boys together we realised we wanted to get a side and play together week in and week out.
“Everyone wants to do it for Mark. There’s been no arguments, everyone knows the reasons we are doing it.
“We want to keep it going for years. When Mark’s nephews get a bit older they will be able to play for us. We are starting from the bottom and working our way up.”
Search Facebook for Chuffy’s Ely FC for more information.