In memoriam – Stan Thomas
Pontypridd RFC are extremely saddened to learn of the recent passing of Club stalwart Stan Thomas. Stan was a former player, committeeman, secretary and chairman who served the Club with distinction for over 60 years. There is no better way to pay tribute to such a great man than in the words of Club Historian Alun Granfield –
Another great servant of our club has passed away.
Stan Thomas first played for Pontypridd as a 19-year-old wing-threequarter on 5th September 1953, against Llandaff, and this was the start of a lifelong association with the club as player and committeeman. Looking at the team that turned out alongside Stan on that afternoon, only one is still with us, Dai Love. Stan played his last game on 26th December 1963 after 201 appearances, 55 tries, and 168 points scored.
His rugby career had started at the local Grammar School, where he was capped for Wales U-16 XV in 1950, and at U-18 level in 1952. His performances on the wing for Pontypridd gained him further honours, although he never quite made the senior international scene, which was the fate of so many good players from the “unfashionable” clubs in those days. He had terrific pace, was built like a pocket battleship, and gave his all for the club in every game he played.
This was just of his involvement with the club, as he was voted onto the committee in June 1964, and also helped to run the Athletic XV in his last season as a player. His involvement with the Athletic team continued over the next few years, and his name was mentioned constantly in the minutes of the AGM for his work with the second fifteen. Stan then became the club’s Hon. Secretary in 1969, and continued in this role until 1994, when he became the club’s chairman, a role he fulfilled for the next ten years or so.
Many of us regulars will remember Stan as the match commentator at Sardis Road, announcing the teams and scorers. I always loved it when we played teams from overseas, with players with some very strangely spelled names. Stan’s efforts at pronunciation were great to see and hear for those of us sitting just in front of him.
Stan was a lovely, gentle gentleman, always cheerful and helpful to me when I took over the keeping of the club’s records from him in 1994. I still have all his files in my cabinet upstairs and I also have many of his membership cards from the sixties onwards. A little bit of him will always be with me.
Our club lives and thrives because of people like Stan Thomas, and there are many of them working for us in the background today. Thanks to Stan and to all of those who are following in his footsteps – Alun Granfield
Stan Thomas’ contribution to Pontypridd RFC over many decades was immense and he will be sorely missed by everyone connected to the Club. We wish to pass on our sincere condolences to all Stan’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.
