Mark Dicks

The club was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of former player and current serving Police Officer Mark Dicks at the tragically young age of 53.

Mark, known to all as Dicksy was a native of Rassau and joined the Steelmen following advice from his work colleague at Marine Colliery and Ebbw Vale stalwart Malcolm Sibthorpe after starting his senior career at the RTB club. Dicksy was a great performer in the 2nd row and only left his hometown club when he joined South Wales Police, switching to the star studded police team that contained many current Welsh internationals.

Dicksy also spent several seasons in a very strong Pontypridd team where he alternated between the second and back rows. He dropped down from what was then known as First Class Rugby and joined Merthyr where he now lived and captained the club as they climbed the leagues. He ended his career as a player coach at Dowlais RFC after which he switched all of his attention to motocross, a major love for Dicksy from a young age

Dicksy was an imposing figure, as gentle off the field as he was tough on it with a wonderful sense of humour, often self deprecating, and could be relied upon to provide some fun at anytime.

As someone who knew him very well from the age of 4, he was a wonderful person to grow up with and a great friend to many, myself included and in the last few days many Dicksy stories have come back to me and they have all, without fail, made me smile.

Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with his wife and family.

As a mark of respect a minute silence will be held prior to this Saturday’s Bedwas game

Chairman

Jon Jones