We are deeply saddened to announce that Brian Fear has sadly passed away.
Brian
was
synonymous
with
Aberaman
Athletic/Aberdare
Town
where
he
was
secretary
for
50
years
taking
up
the
post in 1957 but had been with the Club even prior to that having been a team mascot as a young boy.
He
was
elected
to
the
Welsh
Football
League
committee
and
served
for
many
years
as
Treasurer,
Vice
Chairman
and Chairman and upon the league being disbanded in 2020 he was still the league president.
In
1977
he
joined
the
Football
Assocation
of
Wales
and
he
was
the
longest
serving
FAW
councilor
culminating
in
him
being the FAW President from 1994-1997.
But
it
was
always
his
love
for
his
local
side,
having
been
born
in
Abercwmboi,
that
came
first
and
foremost
and
despite
stepping
back
from
day
to
day
involvement
he
remained
as
Life
Vice-President
and
the
main
stand
at
Aberaman Park was named after him.
Upon
the
news
today
we
spoke
with
several
people
from
around
the
Club,
both
past
and
present
on
their
thoughts
and memories of the great man:
“It
is
with
deep
sorrow
that
we
hear
today
of
the
death
of
Mr
Brian
Fear.
On
behalf
of
Aberdare
Town
FC
I
would
like
to
pass
on
to
Brian’s
family
our
deepest
sympathy.
I
was
very
fortunate
to
get
to
know
Brian
from
a
very
young
age
when
I
started
to
watch
his
beloved
Aberaman
Athletic
and
with
the
likes
of
Mr
Ken
Sweet
and
Mr
Richy
Edwards
we
traveled
around
South
Wales
supporting
the
team.
I
can
remember
visiting
the
likes
of
Tredomen
Works,
Skewen
and
Maesteg
Park,
sides
now
long
gone
but
never
forgotten.
Halcyon
days
indeed
and
I
could
not
think
of
a
nicer
person
to spend my afternoons supporting my local team with.
“Brian
who
as
we
know
was
secretary
of
Aberaman
for
many
many
years
and
his
reputation
as
a
sincere
and
honest
person
within
the
Welsh
football
community
saw
him
elected
as
President
of
the
Football
Association
of
Wales
an
honour
not
only
that
he
massively
deserved
but
an
honour
that
we
all
shared
in
the
Cynon
Valley
knowing
that
he
had
been
recognised
for
his
lifetime
endeavors.
Brian
was
a
family
man
and
a
faithful
Christian
his
work
as
a
church
warden
at
St
Magrets
Church
in
Aberaman
is
legendary
and
for
many
years
I
think
he
would
spend
as
much
time
there cutting the grass as he would spend time marking the pitch at Aberaman Park.
“Brian
you
will
be
massively
missed
and
for
those
of
us
that
had
the
honour
of
knowing
you
all
that
is
left
to
say
now
is - thank you Mr Fear.
Garry Williams - Chairman of Aberdare Town FC
“Brian
Fear
was
a
legend
in
my
life,
plus
he
was
a
legend
of
the
club
that
was
Aberaman
Athletic
(now
called
Aberdare
Town)
-
his
heart
was
in
the
club
till
he
grew
his
wings
along
with
doing
so
much
for
the
church
in
Aberaman
not
to
mention
all
the
things
he
did
for
charities
and
presentations.
He
was
my
hero
and
I
really
looked
up
to
him
for
my
whole
life
as
he
started
me
playing
the
lovely
game
at
the
age
6
and
all
ways
looked
after
me
and
everyone else that spent time with this fantastic club”
Anthony Jenkins - former player / coach of ATFC
“The
word
legend
is
used
far
too
often
in
football
and
life
more
generally
but
when
referring
to
Brian
Fear
the
word
has
never
been
more
apt.
From
the
moment
I
met
Brian
in
1987
to
delivering
the
Welsh
League
title
for
his
beloved
Aberaman
Athletic
in
2009
I
always
felt
immensely
privileged
to
know
Brian
and
spend
time
in
his
company.
Brian
will
always
have
a
very
special
place
in
my
heart
for
the
way
he
looked
after
me
as
a
raw
young
goalkeeper
in
1987
ensuring
that
I
was
picked
up
and
dropped
off
for
each
game.
Brian’s
smile
at
the
end
of
the
Welsh
Cup
seismic
shock
victory
against
Aberystwyth
Town
in
2002
and
his
reaction
to
the
title
win
in
2009
will
remain
with
me
for
the
rest
of
my
life.
A
true
gentleman
who
gave
his
everything
for
Aberaman
Athletic,
a
club
that
would
not
even
exist
without
his
amazing
efforts
over
50
years.
Brian
will
be
solely
missed
by
everyone
in
Welsh
football
and
those
that
knew him, an absolute legend who so many owe so much. RIP Brian.”
David Morgan - former player / manager / Chairman of ATFC
“Without
question
Brian
Fear
is
the
most
popular
official
that
Welsh
football,
at
any
level,
had
produced.
A
true
gentleman
who
will
be
greatly
missed
by
the
so
many
who
knew
him
and
it
was
an
honour
and
privilege
to
have
served with him at the Club. RIP Brian”
Richard Rowlands - former Chairman of ATFC
“
Very
sad
at
the
passing
of
Brian.
I’ve
known
Brian
for
almost
30
years
since
I
joined
Aberaman
AFC
-
he
really
is
a
local
legend
and
was
a
real
football
man;
he’s
did
so
much
for
Welsh
football
over
the
years
from
grassroots
to
the
very
top
of
the
FAW
as
their
President.
I’ve
been
lucky
enough
to
attend
lots
of
games
with
Brian
over
the
years
-
and
one
thing
he
liked
as
much
as
the
football
was
the
after-match
food
or
buffet,
quite
often
filling
his
jacket
pockets
with
sandwiches on the way home!
“I
remember
going
to
his
house
around
20
years
ago
after
lots
of
clubs
in
the
Valley
had
a
minutes
silence
for
him
years
ago
following
news
of
his
sad
(but
luckily
untrue!)
passing
that
had
spread
around
the
Valley.
He
had
had
a
heart
attack
but
was
thankfully
recovering!!
We
laughed
together
when
he
said
at
least
it
shows
how
popular
I
am
and
how
many
people
get
to
see
and
hear
of
their
own
minutes
silence!!!
After
he’d
had
his
quadruple
by
pass
he
was
fitter
than
he
had
ever
been
and
carried
on
his
life
at
100
mph!
He
always
boasted
to
me
that
he
was
special
as
he’d had a quadruple by pass!
He’ll
be
massively
missed
by
all
that
knew
him,
his
family,
football
friends
and
church
friends
just
to
name
a
few.
RIP
Brian”
Steve Pearce - Treasurer of ATFC
“Brian
was
a
fantastic
man
with
a
great
character
and
always
had
a
story
to
tell
and
a
smile
on
his
face.
He
was
a
stalwart
of
the
club,
holding
it
together
through
the
good
times
and
the
tough
too.
He
has
done
so
much
for
so
many
people around the Valley and his contribution to Welsh Football will always be remembered.
“A football legend and he will be sadly missed”
Lee Williams - former player / manager of ATFC
“Growing
up
in
Abercwmboi,
I
was
privileged
to
cross
paths
with
Brian
on
a
regular
basis.
He
always
had
time
to
chat
about
football,
especially
his
beloved
Aberaman
Athletic
and
always
with
a
smile
on
his
face.
To
me
he
was
a
celebrity
of
our
village,
he
knew
footballers
and
officials
from
clubs
that
I
only
got
to
watch
on
TV,
but
as
I
got
older
I
began
to
realise
that
he
wasn’t
just
a
celebrity
in
my
little
village
of
Abercwmboi,
but
he
was
renowned
throughout
football as one of the good guys, for his hard work and commitment to the game he loved and those involved in it.
“My
thoughts
are
with
his
family,
friends
and
colleagues
whose
lives
he
undoubtedly
made
better
for
knowing
him.
I
hope
that
they
can
take
some
comfort
at
this
difficult
time
from
the
outpouring
of
love
and
wonderful
memories
that
have been shared today on social media by so many who knew Brian”.
David Sweet - Secretary of ATFC
Since
the
news
broke
today,
just
by
looking
on
social
media,
you
can
see
just
how
respected
Brian
was
throughout
football
which
culminated
in
his
amazing
efforts
within
the
local
community
over
so
many
years
being
awarded
the
British Empire Medal in 2012 in the Queens birthday honours list.
As
a
Club
we
are
so
grateful
to
all
the
well
wishers
and
memories
that
have
been
shared
and
without
doubt
the
loss
of
Brian
will
leave
a
big
hole
in
the
Club
and
will
certainly
never
be
forgotten
for
his
contribution
to
Welsh
Football
and
his love of what is now known as Aberdare Town.
Brian,
thank
you
for
everything,
you
will
be
missed
but
most
importantly
will
always
be
remembered
as
the
biggest
legend this club will ever have having touched so many lives.
Details regarding funeral arrangements will be announced when we know more.
FAW Statement:
HERE
BBC News item:
HERE
Brian Fear BEM
Published
Wednesday 23 February 2022
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