Dedicated Hereford football fan Roger Townley dies at 80

Roger Townley began attending games at Edgar Street just after the Second World War and, despite his final illness, was well enough to attend Hereford's FA Vase final with Morpeth at Wembley in May.

Hereford born and bred, Roger lived in Ferndale Road and attended Hereford Cathedral School before moving on to Wycliffe College.

After National Service in the RAF, Roger became a Conservative party agent in Lewisham and then in Plymouth.

In 1969, a change in career saw him move to Bristol to become secretary of the Building Trades and Federation before moving on to the Construction Industry Training Board.

He remained involved in training in the building trade even after his retirement.

Roger, his wife Jean, to whom he was married for 55 years, and daughter Sacha moved to Somerset in 1985 but his passion for Hereford United never waned.

"I think the car knew its way back to Hereford on its own, it was such a well-used road" said Jean.

"He was a member of the Action Committee and, with Colin Addison and Malcolm Whyatt, helped to organise the 25th anniversary reunion of the Giantkillers side in 1997.

"Roger's other passion was horse-racing, not for the betting but for the horses and the spectacle.

"He was able to go to the Derby this year as well as to Wembley.

"Roger celebrated his 80th birthday with a tea-party - just like Paddington Bear, he said - on the Saturday before he died on Wednesday, August 31."

"Roger, five other staunch supporters and I set up the HUFC Supporters Action Group when Colin Addison was sacked in 1974," recalled Malcolm Whyatt.

"If Addison was unfairly criticised in the press, it was Roger who set the record straight in the letters page of the Hereford Times.

"Roger had an astounding collection of HUFC memorabilia which he displayed at various celebrations."

Roger Townley's funeral will take place at Draycott Church at 1.30pm on Friday, September 16 and then at Shepton Mallett Crematorium at 3pm.