Afan Lido saw in the new year in traditional style – with a challenge match against near neighbours Aberavon Harlequins RFC.
Now a tradition stretching back over 20 years, the two clubs have staged a memorial match on New Year’s Day – alternating between football and rugby.
It commemorates the three men who lost their lives when blast furnace No 5 exploded at Port Talbot steelworks in 2001 – Stephen Galsworthy, Andrew Hutin and Len Radford.
“Stephen was a former Afan Lido FC player while Andrew was a promising young rugby player for Aberavon Harlequins,” explains Lido media officer Richard Taylor. “We felt that it was a fitting tribute for both clubs to hold a match in their honour.”
This time round it was the turn of rugby – with first-team players, youth players, committee and club members all taking part to raise over £200.
And all monies raised on the day this year will be donated to the family of 15-year-old Preston Camps-Lee, who played for both clubs, and sadly died in a motorcycle accident last month.
“A big thank you to Mark Robinson of Afan Lido and Andrew Dacey of Aberavon Quins for continuing to organise this event,” added Taylor.
