FRIENDS and family of a much-loved Malvern football coach who died suddenly are holding an event in his memory to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Dad-of-two Ian Hughes, who was involved in grassroots football across the county, was just 49 when he died in March last year.
Ian had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) at the age of 19.
The condition is an inherited disease which causes the muscular wall of the heart to become thickened. It was detected whilst Ian served for the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and resulted in him being medically discharged after just two years’ service.
Although Ian took medication to help control symptoms of HCM, the condition carries a risk of causing a cardiac arrest without warning.
Sadly, Ian’s cardiac arrest was caused by his underlying condition, and he leaves behind wife of 20 years, Sally, and sons Ryan, 15 and Brad, 23.
Ian’s sudden death came as a shock to all who knew him. He was well-known in Malvern, having grown up in the area and attending both Great Malvern Primary School and The Chase Technology College.
Simon Secretan, chair of Leigh and Bransford Badgers Football Club, knew Ian through his coaching at the club and said he was at the ‘forefront’ of grassroots football in Worcestershire.
“He was an incredible friend, father and football coach, and a very likeable and down to earth guy. Ian had no airs and graces – what you saw was what you got. He was very open in helping and supporting others,” he said.
“To find out he had passed away so suddenly just took my breath away. I had only seen him just weeks earlier when he was helping to coach my son. It was just unbelievable.”
To add to the tragedy, Ian’s death occurred during the first lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It meant that his funeral was limited to close family members only.
To pay their respects, around 200 people – including football coaches from across Malvern – lined the streets to applaud the funeral cortege as it drove to Great Malvern Cemetery. A memorial event was also mooted, but plans had to be put on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Now restrictions have lifted, a family fun evening will be held in Ian’s memory on Friday, August 20 from 5.30pm.
E-mail Simon Secretan at [email protected] or call 07748 773388 for more.
