TRIBUTES have been paid to 'an unbelievable character' who was a much-loved figure in the Wrexham sporting community and beyond.

Clive 'Tommo' Thompson passed away aged 60 years old on Tuesday (January 30) following a short illness.

He was well-known in Wrexham's sporting community having been part of the likes of Lex XI Football Club and Brymbo Cricket Club for a number of years.

Mr Thompson also had spells as a football coach with Gresford Athletic, Airbus and Brymbo over the years.

Those who knew him best have described him as an 'unbelievable character' with a 'wide circle' of friends.

Paying tribute to him following his death, Brymbo Cricket Club wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Clive “Tommo” Thompson. An unbelievable character, who has helped move the club from strength to strength, whilst operating as our commercial manager.

"His services of which were recognised at our presentation night, where he was awarded the Outstanding Services to the Club award. Tommo brought an unbelievable amount of energy and drive to our great club. He was a players favourite, nothing would be too much when it came to supporting the players.  

"An integral part of last year’s successful prostate cancer charity match. From now on, the trophy for this match will be named “The Clive Thompson Trophy”.

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Phil Jones, Lex XI FC president added: “I don’t think I have ever come across a man with such a wide circle of friends. The fact he had almost 1,000 of them on Facebook tells its own story and nobody on this planet socialised better than him.

"Our paths first crossed in 1979 when he joined British Aerospace as a 16 year old apprentice. Most of his life was dedicated to grass roots football where he emerged on the soccer scene at The Grapes FC.

"It was as a manager though where he made a name for himself. He had successful spells at Airbus, Gresford Athletic, LEX XI and Brymbo where his side were runners up in the Cymru Alliance.

"He spent a large part of his life working at British Tissues but he went on to run a thriving GO-DIRECT business specialising in chauffer driven mini-bus airport transports.

"In August, I took a call from him out of the blue, we met for coffee and we reminisced about our respective football journeys and he told me a lovely story about him and his Brymbo FC chairman Dave Jackson signing Mickey Thomas after he had completed his professional career.

"He went on to tell me how much he was enjoying his role at Brymbo Cricket Club as their commercial manager and how he was involved in the organisation of a charity cricket match between a North Wales team and a South African Select XI. ‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌

"He was aware of my passion raising money for Prostate Cancer and asked would our support group like to be the event charity partner. Not only did the Welsh boys triumph on the day – the real winners were my support group as weeks later he presented me with a four figure cheque."