GAVIN MANSFIELD-SAD DEATH OF DEDICATED CLUBMAN-BOTH RUGBY FOOTBALL & CRICKET

Emma Kemmish | 09/03/2026

All members & former players of both BRIDGWATER & ALBION RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB & WEMBDON CRICKET CLUB will be sad to learn of the death of their friend, playing colleague &dedicated clubman GAVIN MANSFIELD on 8 March. Gavin had been in hospital for some time & was on life support at the very end.

Gavin showed early interest in sports- particularly rugby & cricket & played for both of his clubs from an young age gradually moving through the age groups to Albion Colts XV & then into the senior ranks where he played predominantly in the Athletic(Dirttrackers) XV with the occasional game in our United XV- he played almost exclusively in the threequarter line-mainly on the wing where his speed was an advantage& he developed into a useful player. Above all he was dedicated to the cause -always available & amenable for both training which he undertook assiduously & for matches. Alas his playing career was suddenly cut short when suffered a training ground injury from which he was not to recover. However, he turned to the next best thing, assisting the late great Jack Smith with the organization of the Dirttrackers XV & becoming permanent touch judge- a role which he performed until the demise of the side just before the pandemic. Even afterwards he continued to frequent the club on match days in company with his father Andy & other members of the Mansfield family;& on training nights where he assisted the supper provision& Tina Clair & Carl took him under their wings.He simply could not stay away & always wished to be involved.It was always good to see him around the club & he will be sadly & affectionately missed.

It was the same at Wembdon Cricket Club where Gavin was ever present in the summer months.Coming up through the junior & youth ranks he developed into a useful all round cricketer with his medium paced bowling to the fore.He was the mainstay of the club’s 3^rd X1 for many seasons always ready & available to play for whichever club side required him.Alas his rugby accident also put paid to his cricket career but with an inbuilt sense of belonging he still came to the club regularly-at the Chilton ground he kept the manual scoreboard ticking;prepared the players refreshments and served behind the bar. When the club moved to the Green he was a regular attendee & there again his absence has been & will be sadly missed. A few years ago he was appointed a life member of the club in recognition of long service & moreso the quality of it.

Gavin was an apprentice at what is now Trelleborg Sealing Solutions at Dunball &again came up through the ranks to become a dedicated employee. When his medical condition forced him to retire prematurely, he assisted the Bridgwater Food Bank in distributing donated food items to the public at large.

Gavin will be long remembered by those he can in contact with during his long sporting attachments & both clubs offer their sincere condolences to Andy & his family, with our gracious thanks for Gavin’s dedicated services to the games & clubs he loved.

Details of Gavin’s funeral are awaited.

Scribe

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