A RUGBY club in Almondsbury is set to host a memorial fun day tomorrow, paying tribute to a junior coach who died last year at the age of 42.

Andrew Frith, a junior coach at North Bristol Rugby Club, passed away in January 2017 following a brief battle with cancer, leaving behind a wife and three children.

Having started coaching around four years ago, Andy only found himself in the role because noone else came forward, but turned out to be highly successful.

His parents, Bob and Anita, came up with the idea of the memorial day to remember their son, who they described as ‘a happy man, a wonderful father and son’ alongside his friends at the club.

“He was a wonderful person, a gentleman who was always very fair,” said Anita.

“He always made sure that their children would get a game and would never be left out and that is why I wanted to do something for the rugby club.”

She said that at a service, held at the club shortly after his death, she was amazed to see more than 300 people in attendance and joked that as he had been the quiet one growing up she was shocked to be told he ‘was the comedian’ and always able to hold a crowd at the club.

“It is wonderful to see how much he was loved at the club and we hope everyone can make it to this celebration of his life.

The event on Friday will feature live music at the club, as well as a raffle, barbecue and buffet, with all proceeds going towards the club. A shield has already been bought in his memory which will be awarded annually to the club’s ‘best coach of the year’.

“We are already getting the shield, but what I would like to with the rest of the money raised is buy is something like a bench or a stand that can stay with the club to commemorate him,” said Anita.

Fellow junior coach Jamie Mayes, who met Andy as a fellow player parent before they started coaching described him as ‘a great guy who would do anything for anyone’.

“When the juniors needed a coach, he stepped up and turned out to be really good. It was a real shock and sadness when he passed away”.

The event will run at North Bristol Rugby Club from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Tickets are £10 each and are available from the club.