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

Published Wednesday 23 February 2022