TRIBUTES have been paid to Cwmbran Town’s Ian Greaney, a true gentleman of Gwent football.

The popular Cwmbran Town secretary died suddenly and his loss will be felt not just at his club but throughout the region with Greaney part of the Gwent FA board and their referee instructor as well as secretary for Cwmbran.

“Ian was in the middle of a refereeing course for us, one of many and we are struggling to find the right words,” Gwent FA secretary Alan Watkins explained.

“He was a very popular guy, mild-mannered and never ruffled and as anyone who loves football will know, just working with a club can be an extremely tough undertaking.

“Ian served Cwmbran Town with distinction for many years but wanted to put even more back into the game and did so by helping the Gwent FA.

“He did that because he wanted to put more back into the game and his courses were very, very popular.

“The news of his death is devastating and we will all miss him greatly. More than anything, he was a gentleman.”

Cwmbran’s chairman, Gareth Griffiths, admitted he was struggling put into words the loss everyone at the club is feeling.

“It just comes as a massive, massive shock, it’s hard to know what to say other than that from a club perspective, we have lost an absolute stalwart,” he said.

“Ian has been the face of Cwmbran Town for a long time and his love of football and for Cwmbran was absolutely infectious.

“And more than that, he really cared about the game in general as evidenced by his work with the Gwent FA.

“I honestly can’t sum up in words just how much we will all feel his loss. It’s devastating.”

The Gwent Football Association will pay tribute to Greaney, who is survived by his wife Susan and two sons, by asking all member clubs to wear black armbands this weekend during games.