MEMORIAL MATCH FOR GENTLE GIANT AJAX
AMEMORIAL rugby match was held yesterday following the death of popular Banwen RFC coach and playerpl Anthony Thomas. Th The 42-year-old is thought to haveha suffered an electric shock while he was working on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road,Ro near Merthyr Tydfil, in September.Sep An electrician, he had been workingworki on street lighting between Cefn Coed and the Baverstocks Roundabout near Merthyr Tydfil. He wasw taken to nearby Prince Charles Hospital, where he died. Pals yesterdayy organised a match betweenbetwee the Dulais Valley Dinosaurs a and the Swansea Valley Veterans. Th They also held a fundraising auction.auction FriendFrien Leighton Thomas, 42, had known Anthony, who was nicknamed Ajax, since they were boys. “Anthony“Anth was a massive man but you’d n never find a gentler guy or a more sinceres guy,” the 42-year-old said. “He would do anything for anyone.
“So many people have contacted me saying they only met him once when they were shooting or something and that is crazy for them to remember him.”
Earlier this year Anthony became a dad to his daughter Katie, who he had with his girlfriend Caroline Williams.
“He was a very well known and popular guy on the rugby circuit, we grew up together,” Leighton said. “He was taken from us too soon.” Anthony was a popular player and coach with Banwen RFC.
He had also played for Dunvant during their spell in the top flight of Welsh rugby during the mid 1990s.
“What we are hoping to do is put everything together in a trust fund for the daughter,” Leighton said.
“That can go to a college fund or house, or whatever the mother decides.
“But it will be something for her to never forget that her father was well loved.”
The tragedy followed the death of Mr Thomas’ brother 20 years ago in a car accident.
“Anthony’s funeral was one of the biggest the crematorium has ever seen,” Leighton said.
“Cars were parking A465.
“There must have been at least 1,000 people there.
“People came down from New- all up the castle and everything.”
Leighton had been moved by the kindness of people who did not know him.
“We played Burry Port recently and after the game there must have been 25 people on the Burry Port bus who raised abut £80, which was a lovely gesture,” Leighton said.
“I was really touched when they said they had a bit of a whip round.”
A sport-themed auction was held after yesterday’s game.
Items up for grabs included a signed All Blacks jersey, Joe Calzaghe signed gloves and Aaron Ramsey signed football boots.