Family’s tribute to ‘brilliant sportsman’
POLICE officer and former Cardiff City academy player Rhys Kelleher has been remembered as a brilliant sportsman and a loving and loyal son by his family, following his death at the age of 28.
Rhys, from Treharris, died at Cardiff ’s Velindre Hospital on August 21, a year after being diagnosed with cancer.
As previously reported, the talented midfielder joined the Bluebirds’ academy in 2003, developing through the system and representing the club at Under-21 level.
He would later take up studies at the University of South Wales, where he represented their BUCS team, before going into the coaching side of the game.
More recently, Rhys had worked as a police officer with Gwent Police prior to falling ill.
His family yesterday released a statement, which read: “Rhys was a brilliant sportsman, he played rugby, football and athletics.
“He played for Cascade football team at seven years old and played rugby for St Michaels Primary school.
“Participating in both sports meant he was chosen to represent East Wales Under-11s in rugby when they played against West Wales.
“Also, while playing football for Cascade he was picked up by a Cardiff City scout and he signed for the academy at 12 years of age.
“He stayed in the academy squad and at the age of 16 he signed a scholarship. Rhys was also playing rugby for Beddau RFC and Ponty schools, which meant he had an opportunity to trial for the Cardiff Blues which resulted in them wanting him to sign him.
“Rhys knew he couldn’t play both sports so therefore had to make a choice. Rhys chose to keep playing football for Cardiff City and he went on to play in numerous games for them, scoring some great goals.
“He was also chosen to represent Wales Under-19s, which he was thrilled about. Unfortunately, Rhys did not get a pro contact with Cardiff City and was released.
“Rhys then decided to have a change in direction and chose to go to the University of South Wales to study criminology and criminal justice, where he achieved a 2:1.
“While in university, he also represented the university in football and was chosen to represent Wales Universities for home nations tournaments in 2010 and 2012.
“After university, an opportunity came with Cardiff City to work in Malaysia to coach football and teach English.
“He was in Malaysia for two years and loved every minute of it.
“When returning home he worked for Capita and Welsh Water
Police.
“We (his parents and his sister) did not think that he would find a job which he would love as much as football, but when he joined Gwent Police in 2017, he loved being a police constable.
“Rhys also decided to go back to rugby and joined Penallta RFC, where he played for the second team.
“We were so proud of him. He was a loving and loyal son, brother and friend and we miss him greatly.”
As reported in Saturday’s Echo, Cardiff City earlier released a statement in which the club said: “A talented footballer with wit and an engaging personality, Rhys will be missed by his friends, teammates, coaches and former colleagues at Cardiff City Football Club.
“We would like to place on record our sincerest condolences to Rhys’ family at this terribly sad time.” before joining Gwent