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Albion’s Old Stagers Mourn Death of Somerton Character

| 22/07/2014 | Reply

ALBION’S OLD STAGERS MOURN DEATH OF SOMERTON CHARACTER

Older players at Bridgwater & Albion and particularly those who have participated in Dirtracker rugby over the last 20 years or so will have been saddened to have learnt of the death of Eirian Williams latterly of Somerton RFC recently.  He has in fact close links with Albion in that his son-in-law Kevin Innalls is of course our head coach and the club’s sincere condolences extend to Sian, Kevin and family. 

Eirian was a policeman who moved to Somerset from South Wales to take up his constabulary duties.  He had a fond and long attachment to rugby football and accordingly firstly played for the Avon & Somerset force side but as he was stationed around the county, played variously for Wellington, Morganians and latterly Somerton.  He was a natural flanker but I have encountered him at scrum-half and in his later years, he has turned out wherever his club required in the tradition of a true clubman.  He was always a competitive opponent but had an infectious spirit about him which meant that all games were to be thoroughly enjoyed and that he always transmitted to members of his own team and indeed the opposition.  He always provided friendly banter to all concerned including considerable polite advice to referees.  He was always good fun to play against and was the first to share in the after-match celebrations. 

Since moving to the Somerton area, he has been of considerable assistance to the local club who have made good progress since their formation in 1998 and he has helped their development to be a force to be reckoned with now.  He has assisted them both in the playing and latterly in a coaching capacity.  He can be proud of the spirit and skills which Somerton have now garnered.

Albion President Mike Berry who was a frequent opponent of Eirian, summed up the relationship – “Eirian was always a popular and very competitive opponent who invariably played with a smile on his face whether the game was going his way or otherwise.  He would always be the first to shake your hand at the end of a game whatever the result and to enjoy the after match celebrations.  In particular, I was delighted that following his recovery from an earlier illness, that he was able to accept an invitation to one of my own celebrations which meant a lot to me and to Eirian himself.  He has been a great stalwart of the game of rugby football over a long period and will be sadly missed.”

Category: Club News

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