Wrexham: Tributes paid to local councillor and football chairman

Brymbo FC chairman and community councillor, Tony Birch, died after a short illness on Friday aged 68.

His wife Chris has led tributes, describing him as "the life and soul of anything that was going on".

She said as a local community councillor he "avidly" helped the village of Tanyfron "fight for what he thought was right for them", adding: "He was approached morning, noon and night, never turning anyone away that needed his help."

Tony previously worked for Social Services and in his spare time, was passionate about football and singing.

Chris added: "We had been married for ten years and during his time Tony’s proudest moment came when he was chairman of the local community council and we received an invite to go to the Queens’ Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

"But within two years of us being married Tony was told he had lung cancer and would need a lung removing. This brought on a whole new chapter to our lives but Tony was relentless and said from the beginning he was not going to let it beat him, sure enough he didn’t.

"He fought the battle and beat it but unfortunately he had to give up his work for Social Services which devastated him. He carried on with his football and singing but eventually even the singing became too much.

"Singing was part of his life, he was Mr Entertainer and it wasn’t easy knowing that you would not be able to carry on doing it. Occasionally he would do the odd song at a family function or maybe in the Crick which would make his night.

"We were then told that Tony had COPD in his remaining lung. Over time this worsened and Tony had several bouts in hospital, but again he would not let this beat him."

During this time Tony remained on Tanyfron Community Council, now as chairman and also as the chairman of Brymbo FC.

"Brymbo FC were his lads," added Chris. "He so loved his football and was constantly doing for them, from buying the sausage and chips for after the match to running the kits to the launderette, nothing was too much.

"Often he was told off by me and his son for running himself into the ground, only to say it kept him going and he'd do it for as long as he possibly could."

Tony was admitted to hospital on October 12 and the following day he found out he had pneumonia, among other problems.

"He had fought hard and long but this time he did not beat it. Word spread rapidly and Facebook and Twitter erupted with comments from people I have never even heard of," said Chris. "People were shocked to hear of his death and all the comments were showing respect and love for him.

"The NWFA informed us that every team in the NW leagues would be holding a minutes silence or applause for him prior to the games that took place on October 27.

"Myself, my family and his daughter went up to the Brymbo game as a gesture, and I think the nicest thing that was said to me by one of the lads was that they hated football and what it had become last year, but now they loved it and it was all thanks to Tony.

"Tony Birch was a respected man, how much he will never sadly know."

Further tributes have been received by Kieran Howard, junior coach at Brymbo Lodge YFC, who said: "I knew Tony very well, he was obviously very helpful as he took me on board at the club.

"He was a proper football person, very helpful but also could be a bit of a cheeky chap, he liked to put the banter about.

"He was a straight and honest man though, famous for his call of who wanted the last sausage roll, or the chicken soup he liked to cook.

"His work and effort was unrivalled, so it is a great loss to the club and the community, it's very sad.

"We had our disagreements, but we also had our good times too. He'll certainly always be known as Mr Steelmen."

Councillor Paul Rogers said: "I worked with Tony as a councillor for over ten years, so I knew him well. My thoughts are with the family at this time.

"Tony was a man who always had his heart in the right place, and he was Tanyfron through and through."