Cricket team’s tearful tribute to tragic teen James Corfield
AMINUTE’S applause was made in tribute to teenager James Corfield as members of his “devastated” cricket club played their first match following the 19-year-old’s death.
With emotions running high before the match, members of Montgomery Cricket Club hugged each other for support wearing blue armbands decorated with a blue heart and James’ nickname “Jimmy”.
James’ body was formally identified by police last week after a fiveday search, aided by Montgomery Cricket Club and young farmers from the area.
James had been camping at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. His family raised the alarm after he failed to meet them on Tuesday, July 25.
The special tribute was paid on Saturday as Montgomery Cricket Club, which James had played for since the age of nine, took on Alberbury and Wellington. Flowers and pictures of the player were also on display in the team’s clubhouse.
James was described as an “outstanding” player and as the team’s leading run scorer.
Before the match, club chairman John Barker said: “Saturday will be hard for the players but the family wanted the game to go on and James would have wanted it to go on.
“There’s a huge hole to fill in the cricket team. At 19 he was already good and he was only going to get better.
The club, where James played alongside his father, brother and younger sister, released a statement last Monday. Mr Barker said: “From primary school, we’ve seen him grow up. He was one of the family. He was playing in our youth team when he was nine years old.
“James was good with the young boys and girls, he would spend time with them playing cricket or football.”
The weekend before hundreds of people had met outside the village hall wearing the colour the teenager was last seen in.
Sue Blower, Montgomery Town Crier, said: “There’s a lot of numbness and a lot of sadness – there’s a real cloud over Montgomery. It’s like a light has gone out in the young community, James did light up a room because he was so lovely.”
A book of remembrance was placed in the town hall. Mrs Blower said: “The book was full – there was an outpouring of grief. James was so integrated in the community. It’s the cricket team that will be completely and utterly lost without him, he was a massive star there.”
The family friend described James as the “most endearing person”, well known in the area for his egg deliveries. She said: “He was always smiling and always absolutely charming.
“I saw him on the Monday and he gave me the biggest hug and said he was going to the grounds.”
Town councillor Cerys Thomas said: “Montgomery has a really good community spirit and this is a family that’s always a big part of it. They are the first to come if someone needs something, so people are really desperate to do anything they can.”
James was a member of Montgomery Young Farmers’ Club as well as the town’s tennis and football teams.
A family statement released by police read: “James was very much a farming family guy.”
“We will miss James with all our hearts, and are utterly devastated.”