Local football shocked over player’s death

The Montgomeryshire football community has been left stunned by the sudden death of former Newtown star Romilly Brown.

The club broke the heartbreaking news yesterday sparking a massive wave of tributes to the gifted footballer who was aged just 49.

Romilly came through the club’s academy before enjoying spells with TNS (Llansantffraid FC at the time), Oswestry Town and Shrewsbury Town.

But upon his release from Shrewsbury, Romilly rejoined the Robins, his hometown club, and became the first ever Newtown player to score in Europe in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Latvia’s Skonto Riga.

The club has not revealed his cause of death, but friends close to the player believed that he suffered a heart attack in France where he has been living for the past 20 years.

Among the dozens of tributes, friend and former teammate Mark Howells said: “He was one of my best pals throughout school.

“Growing up he was hugely popular with everyone from all walks of life, never had a bad word for anyone. He was funny, brilliant at every sport he played and the absolute talisman in our Northside football team.

“From social media you can see how hard this news has hit everyone, and my thoughts are with his family and especially his two girls.”

Only a day earlier, Newtown also announced the sad death of former player, long term volunteer and head of the club’s stewards, Keith Tanner.

Keith was a pivotal player for the Robins in the 1960s and for over 40 years had been a volunteer at the club. A minute’s silence was held for him before Saturday’s defeat to Penybont.