Melvin and Joyce Powell attended today's funeral of former Hereford United player Mick McLaughlin, one of Giantkillers team from 1972, which took place in Newport.
Joyce has kindly given BN a few words about the day.
'Nearly all THE team was there...Fred Potter,
Trampus,(Alan Jones) Goughie,Tricky Ricky (George)Billy Tucker, Cuddly
Dudley(Tyler), Addo (Colin Addison) Ken Mallender and Pete Isaac.
'How
great to add another memorable day to my already over filled file and to
revive memories with the 'lads' and their families. I didn't see Brian
Owen or Billy Meadows, but as the church was full to the brim they could
well have been there. Ronnie and Annie (Radford) were gutted that they
couldn't be present, but Ronnie has just had an operation on a large
cyst and of course Griffo Roger Griffiths RIP was absent in body. He and
Mac will have been reunited and as the priest said Mac will be
"teaching the children how to play football in Heaven"
'Billy Tucker
couldn't speak highly enough of Mac, they shared defensive positions Mac
was super fit and encouraged Tuck, never ever berated him for any
errors. Billy really worshipped him, "He was my hero." Also chatted to
some of Mac's rugby 'family' who reminisced playing with him for Newport
Saracens. At the age of 35, they said Mac was one of the hardest
fittest centres they'd played with!
'Talking to Julie..Mac's 1st wife,
she was over the moon at seeing us there. She said those 5 years Mac was
at Hereford were the happiest years of her life. The praise for our
supporters was a joy to hear, she'd never met so many wonderful people
as during those years. She will be at the match tomorrow as will be
their children, grandchildren and several of the boys of 72.
'Great ovation please.'