We said a final farewell to Dylan today. He was much loved and respected by all of us and was a big part of our club for many years. He will be missed beyond measure.

Because of current restrictions, as well as the health and wellbeing of many, a great number of people were very disappointed that they couldn't attend the service or pay their respects in the chapel. Our Club Chairman Andy Foster, a close friend of Dylan's delivered the eulogy at today's service and many people have asked us if they could read the eulogy. So we are happy to share it with you here.

It is our tradition at Mansfield Rugby Club that we celebrate those who are no longer with us by making a toast. So please take the time today to raise a glass to Dylan as we make that toast today which is; 'to absent friends'. Farewell old friend.

For Dylan

Dylan was one of the good guys, everyone knew that. He was greatly admired and respected by all of us. The tributes received about Dyl have been heart-warming to say the least. I’ve always known he was an easy man to like, but the two words that stood out the most in all the messages of support were ’lovely’ and ‘gentleman’.

He was both of those things and more, but as you know, Dylan was also a very private man and often gave little away. When I considered what to say today, I thought it strange that you can know someone for 45 years and on one level, know very little about them.

Maybe I suppose it’s because a rugby friendship is unlike any other in so many ways. After 45 years I couldn’t tell you his favourite colour, his favourite meal, which films he liked or what he was like at work; but I can tell you a great deal about his character. His loyalty, hard work and commitment, his wonderful smile and of course his willingness to help without hesitation. For example, in recent years he took over the job of Club Secretary for the second time, simply because I asked him to and he knew that we needed him.

He was the club’s first, and for many years, only, official photographer. Over a number of decades, he recorded not just the rugby club’s history, but a great many of us have happy memories preserved and frozen in time because of Dylan’s expertise with the camera. There’s hundreds of rugby action shots, but also weddings and parties for many of us as well as club events and presentation nights.

For a long time, we all had to learn to hold a pose and smile for ages as he switched from analogue to digital photography as he insisted on taking pictures with both cameras to ensure that he got it right; remember the camera in his top pocket…?

Dylan loved serving behind the bar and had done it as far as I can recall since the clubhouse opened in 1979 and this was not just for Saturday afternoon’s, but also, a great many private functions over the years helping generate funds for the club. Of course, over the last 16 years he did this together with June as they came as a package deal. They were the perfect double act to help serve club members and guests.

Incredibly, just before kick-off, he’d dash from behind the bar, get his kit on and run touch for the First Team, which he did at every home game for more years than I care to remember. His personality and manner were the perfect antidote to all those on the touchline who, at least thought, that they always knew best.

I’ve run touch many times and it tested my patience to the very limit. When Dylan fell victim to the lava flow of advice being offered to him from behind, he would just turn and smile. Plus of course, the man was as straight as a Roman road and often denied our own team tries as well as the opposition because he has spotted a foot in touch; just as it should be. Then as soon as the game ended, he was back behind the bar!

His commitment to rugby and our club in particular was immense. I’ve had the pleasure of presenting him with a number of accolades on behalf of the club over the years and to my knowledge Dylan is still the only person to receive ‘Clubman of the Year’ on two occasions, which is no accident.

Our current youth players and particularly Colts, owe a debt of gratitude to Dylan because he was one of the Colts pioneers for our club and our first formal Colts Coach. He firmly believed in growing our own talent and helped to ensure that by developing our youth teams the club had a future.

He was incredibly proud of his Welsh heritage. Perhaps the girls being named Sian and Ceri is an obvious indication of that. Although he did support England of course, as he was actually born in St Albans (which, I’ll be honest, we obviously had some fun with over the years) but there was little doubt which team he was supporting when England played Wales. However, that support was always portrayed in a quiet and dignified way.

His job at QMC brought him to this area in the early 1970’s and he quickly joined the club. I met him when I joined the club in 1975 as a 14 year old and as there was no youth section back then, you either played senior rugby or you didn’t play at all.

As I had no transport Dyl said, “No problem, I’ll pick you up”. So for the next couple of years, until I got myself the regulation moped, a standard requirement for any self-respecting teenager back then, Dylan was my link to training twice a week and something that I have always been grateful for.

Earlier I mentioned about the more endearing qualities we knew Dylan had. He could also come across as quiet and unassuming, but I believe he was just beautifully laconic and although he didn’t say much at times, when he spoke it was always worth listening to. As our old mate ‘Embo’ used to say, ‘Don’t mistake kindness for weakness’ and Dylan was kind but certainly not weak.

He was an extraordinarily clever man with an in depth knowledge about a great many subjects, but as far as rugby is concerned, I know that he knew a lot more than he ever let on. I’ve often seen him behind the bar as he listened to the many self-styled experts that rugby has to offer (me included) on the other side of the bar, as they espoused their various theories on the game that day. He would just smile and listen, but I remain convinced that oftentimes he had an alternative, and probably more accurate view, but he just chose to let them (us) rattle on.

If you knew him at all, then you’d know that he could also be as stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be! If Dyl set his mind on doing (or not doing) something, then you can use any metaphor you like involving wild horses, but he would not be moved.

A few years ago, I had some volunteer badges made for our bar staff because I wanted everyone to know that they were being served by volunteers and for people to be courteous and treat them with respect, especially at private functions. So I asked him to put one on and he just smiled and say no thanks. I carefully explained why I wanted him to wear it and he just kept smiling whilst gently shaking his head.

So I resorted to pleading with him and eventually he took the badge from me and I walked away thinking great stuff, mission accomplished. As I turned, I saw him put the badge on the side behind the bar and carry on serving people; he never did wear it.

Although I have to say that Dyl was probably right on this one; when he picked me up for training it was in his Toyota Corolla, which I think he had for about 15 years. It was a brilliant car and the engine kept going but the car just eventually rotted away from around him (if fact I only ever remember Dyl having about three cars in the last 45 years…?). Anyway, remember that I was 14/15 years old and mad on cars. Every time he picked me up for training, I used to ask him if I could drive. Well, if truth be known I pestered him like an annoying puppy, but he never budged an inch and despite my relentless nagging he never did let me drive it.

This was unlike one or two others I could mention at that time who, quite frankly, caved in far too easily it has to be said. Let’s just say (without Dylan’s help on this occasion) by the time I took my driving test I was well versed in how to drive a car.

When Dylan joined the club he quickly became a First Team regular. Other Fly Half’s came and went, but he was the one constant. He was an archetypal Fly Half in many ways, much like those from the Welsh mould that produced them in Max Boyce’s Fly Half factory. He was known as a distributor, a pivot man and play-maker. He always looked as though he was going to pass and to be honest, that’s exactly what he was trying to do! As a classic Fly Half he wasn’t that keen on contact, that’s what his back row was for!

In one game I recall he ran almost the full length of the pitch trying to get rid of the ball. He constantly looked like he was about to pass the ball and the opposition thought he was too because they either went for the gap or the supporting player. He must have inadvertently sold at least half a dozen dummies trying to off-load the ball as he progressed up the pitch but couldn’t see the right moment to let go.

Around 60 metres later, as he neared the line, he knew he was about to get clattered as they’d had enough of his trickery and so he just slipped to ball away in the nick of time before the inevitable collision. This did actually lead to a score, but modesty prevents me from telling you who sprinted in the last 4 feet to dot the ball down!

He was known as a running Fly Half for a very good reason – he couldn’t kick! Well, he preferred not to anyway. I remember a game at South Leicester, and this was a time when rubber crumb pitches and even good pitch maintenance was thing of the future. It has rained all week and on the Saturday morning too, so after 10 minutes of play the pitch was a mud bath. It’s fair to say it was definitely a Forwards day and not ours.

We had been pressuring them for some time camped around their 22 and had little in the way of points to show for our efforts. When the ball did eventually come out to Dylan, he decided to take responsibility to break the deadlock with a dropped goal attempt so that we would at least come away with some points from all the pressure.

As the ball found its way to him, he took a mighty swing and connected with the ball… badly… as he had somehow managed to both toe-poke and slice it off the side of his boot simultaneously. The ball soared upwards all of 8 or 9 inches off the ground and travelled a miserable 18 to 20 feet before it more ‘plopped’ down rather than landed and unusually for a rugby ball, did not produce a single roll as it came to an abrupt halt in the thick mud about 10 yards short of their line.

The ball stayed where it was for a short while because all of us, including the opposition and the Referee couldn’t see it through the tears of laughter that ensued. I think eventually one of their guys picked it up and scrambled it away into touch which gave us time to regain our composure (if you doubt any of that story, then ask Ruth as she was there that day).

As I recall it was the only dropped goal I ever saw Dylan attempt, although I’m sure he would argue that he had many successful ones in his time.

Notwithstanding that blip, Dylan was of course, a very talented player. He was a deceptive runner and had great distribution skills. I remember playing outside him and watching in awe as he pulled every trick out of the bag in a Notts Cup Semi-Final game against a Nottingham University side that included more than one England youth and U23 international.

It was probably the best game he had for Mansfield, certainly one in which I played with him. Sadly a heavy tackle halfway through the second half put paid to his game that day as he injured his shoulder and had to leave the field but he had certainly left his mark on the game.

At that time he was an aging Fly Half but he had definitely taught the kids a thing or two before he left.

As a youngster Dylan welcomed me with open arms despite the 12 year age gap between us. Like so many people in rugby he didn’t see age, he just saw a rugby mate. As I got older and could drink (well legally anyway) this became a social thing too.

After playing on Saturday afternoon a great many players from across all the teams in the club used to meet up later on the Saturday night for drinks, which as you know, before we had our own clubhouse was in several different pubs around town.

Even off the field, half backs used to stick together and Dylan and Judy would drink with our Scrum Half Rod Waterhouse and his wife Sue in the pub. I think Dyl and Rod were mainly swapping notes on the best moisturiser and talcum powder, rather than in depth game analysis or comparing battle scars. However, Ruth and I were invited to join them for a drink and that led to a great friendship and many happy nights out.

I’ll always be grateful to Dylan, and indeed to Rod, for that, as it would have been easy to dismiss the kid in the room but neither of them did and I have remained close friends with both of them for the last 45 years.

I’ve been in touch with Dylan all the way through lockdown but one of the last conversations I had with him not long before he left us was one of the most difficult and upsetting I’ve ever had and I make no apologies for putting this in terms of the game he loved.

We both knew it was late in the second half and deep into injury time. Although we had managed in previous conversations to avoid the inevitable, this occasion was the first time he had actually said the words ‘end of life planning’ to me (he could be profoundly pragmatic when he needed to be). It is heart breaking when a friend says, “I’m not going to be around for much longer” and “would you say a few words when the time comes”. Of course, he knew that I was upset by this, but he handled it beautifully.

We both knew that there was no easy way out of that one. He asked if I would organise a wake and of course we can’t do that right now, but we will. Circumstances dictate that none of us can say exactly when, but we will.

Shortly after that, the whistle blew for full time and I’d really like to think that he has walked through the doors of a clubhouse in the sky where there’s a pint waiting for him on the bar and he can stand and chat with the many friends we have lost in recent years.

As the saying goes, to know him, really was to love him, because he made it difficult to do anything else. It has been my honour to pay this tribute to our friend Dylan. His family will miss him terribly of course, there is no replacing a man like Dylan; and for me, the rugby club will never quite be the same without him.

To Sian, Ceri, June as well as Gary, Owen, Dave, Abbey and of course Gethin, I would say this; Dylan was one of the best people I have ever known and I’m grateful that I had the chance to thank him for looking after me all those years ago and for his friendship ever since. I owe him more than he will ever know.

We will all miss him more than words can say, but you will miss him the most. He has left us all a little richer for being in our lives and most importantly, he has given us with a lifetime of many happy memories to cherish.

Farewell old friend.
Andy

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UPDATE:

Dylan's funeral service is to be held at Mansfield Crematorium, Thoresby Chapel on Thursday 7th January 2021 at 2:15 pm

Due to current restrictions this will be a private family service and will be by invitation only.

To pay your respects to Dylan you may wish to line the streets on the journey to Mansfield Crematorium or at the entrance to Mansfield Crematorium (Gates).

Please do not send flowers but if you wish to make a donation to the Sir John Eastwood Hospice or pay tribute to Dylan, you can do this by visiting the tribute page at: https://dylanhowells.muchloved.com/

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It is with great sadness that we have to announcement one of the club’s favourite son’s Dylan Howells passed away last night. Dylan succumbed to cancer after a long and courageous fight and our thoughts are with Sian, Ceri, June and the family at this very sad time. Having joined the club in the early 1970s, Dylan soon became a First Team regular and off the field proved to be a highly valued volunteer for the club.

Club Chairman Andy Foster said, “I’ve known Dyl since I was 14 years old and we have all lost a great friend and teammate. Never one for a fanfare, Dyl was a quiet and unassuming man but he was part of the DNA of our club and helped us to get where we are today. I’ve had the pleasure of presenting many club awards to Dylan for his tireless contribution over the years. He was instrumental in setting up our first ever Colts team in the late seventies and was always ready to help out, either behind the bar, or as the club’s first official photographer. Our thoughts are very much with all those who knew and loved him, and we will all miss him greatly”.

Funeral arrangements will follow.