Tribute to rugby club legend after cycling tragedy

TRIBUTES have been paid to “larger than life” former Moseley rugby player Alan Thomas, who died in a cycling accident in Birmingham.

The 70-year-old father-of-two, who played during the club’s heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, suffered fatal injuries after he fell off his bike riding home from Moseley’s Billesley Common ground last Thursday.

Close friend and former teammate John Beale said his untimely death had devastated the club he devoted so much of his life to.

Mr Beale said: “It’s been a pretty emotional time and very hard to take.

“Alan was a larger than life character loved by everybody. There wasn’t a single person who had a bad word to say about him.

“He was always prepared to do things for other people. He was a rich man without money in that he had friends everywhere and that’s the reason for so much shock and grief.”

Born in the Welsh village of Trimsaran, which spawned other rugby greats in Derek Quinnell and Jonathan Davies, Mr Thomas played youth rugby for Llanelli and

Aberavon in 1971.

Famed as a skilful winger with a lethal finish, Thommo, as he was affectionately known, quickly became a regular for the Billesley Boys.

A key member of the team that reached the John Player Cup finals in 1979 and 1982, he went on to make nearly 300 first-team appearances.

After hanging up his boots, Mr Thomas worked as Moseley’s groundsman and also helped to maintain the pitch at Moseley Ashfield Cricket Club, where he was a much-loved figure.

Mr Thomas, who lived with his family in Kings Heath, became kitman when the Red and Blacks moved to their temporary home at the University of Birmingham in 2000 and held that role, among others, right to the present day.

Mr Beale said: “He would always be able to find items of kit for players at all levels of the club when they were in need.

“His helpfulness in this respect as well as kind words of playing advice made him universally loved and respected.

“He was always ready to meet and greet all visitors to Billesley but especially the opposition club, and for many his name is synonymous

before

joining

Moseley with both Birmingham and the ground.”

Mr Thomas, whose son Ollie also represented Moseley with great distinction, kept fit in retirement as a keen runner, cyclist and walker, hobbies that pushed him into several charity engagements.

Over the past five years he helped to raise significant sums through sponsored walks for Hearts of England, Birmingham Disabled Footballers and St Mary’s Hospice.

At Moseley’s annual awards dinner in May, Mr Thomas was fittingly named Clubman of the Year, for which he received a rousing standing ovation.

The club said it was trying to come to terms with “the sudden and sad loss” of “a legend of Moseley rugby’”

A spokesman said: “His influence on the club did not cease with the end of his playing career.

“Alan has been a tireless force working hard to ensure anyone who plays, uses or visits the club was looked after and made to feel welcome.

“A true Moseley man and the nicest person you would wish to meet. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

“You will be greatly missed, old friend.”

Moseley