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Tributes to Mark Kendall
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| Mark Kendall in his County shirt in 1986 |
TRIBUTES were paid today to former Newport County goalkeeper Mark Kendall who died of a suspected heart attack on Thursday night, aged 49.
Born in Blackwood in September 1958, Kendall left Bedwellty Grammar School aged 16 to join Tottenham Hotspur as an apprentice.
County paid a club record fee of £45,000 to bring him home in September 1980 and he went on to play almost 350 games for the club.
Len Ashurst was the man who signed Kendall and he remembered a jovial player who was the life and soul of the dressing room.
"It's very sad news, a real shock at such a young age and my heartfelt commiserations go to his family," said Ashurst.
"He was always excellent in the dressing room with a real good sense of humour but he always trained hard too and was a great keeper."
Steve Lowndes played with Kendall in the early 1980s and the pair remained close for the past 25 years.
"Mark was one of my best friends, best man at my wedding and Godfather to my two children," said Lowndes.
"He was an excellent goalkeeper with a fantastic personality, always fun to be with. Away from football he was a wonderful husband to Gaynor and father to Lee and Lori. Words cannot describe how much my family and I will miss him, a genuine nice guy."
Peter Jones, former commercial director at County, said: "Mark was a true gentleman and always the first to volunteer to meet those less fortunate than him.
"He was also a great player and I remember Bill Nicholson at Spurs telling me that Mark was one of the best young prospects he had ever signed."
After six years at Somerton Park, during which he established himself as a crowd favourite with his unorthodox methods and excellent shot-stopping abilities, Kendall was allowed to join Wolves due to the club's poor financial situation.
Nigel Vaughan, who played with Kendall for County and Wolves, said: "I'm devastated by the news. Mark and I used to travel up from Gwent to Wolverhampton, two hours in the car every day, and the time flew by. We were always laughing and joking and he was just a great guy. My deepest sympathies to his family."
Kendall helped the Midlands club to successive promotions from Division Four and Division Three before joining Swansea where he won the Welsh Cup in 1991.
He also represented Wales at schoolboy, youth and under-21 level and played for Ebbw Vale and Cwmbran in the Welsh Premier League.
In his one game for the Crows, against Barry Town in the 2000-2001 season, Kendall's son Lee, now at WPL-side Rhyl, was in the other goal as Cwmbran ran out 3-0 winners.
After hanging up his gloves he joined Gwent Police and was named police trainer of the year in 2007.
10:15pm Friday 2nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Caerleon County, Caerleon on 12:31am Sat 3 May 08
What a sad day. We have just lost a great former player & personality. Part of Newport County/Newport AFC folklore, you will be fondly remembered. Deepest sympathies to your family, rest in peace Mark.
What a sad day. We have just lost a great former player & personality. Part of Newport County/Newport AFC folklore, you will be fondly remembered. Deepest sympathies to your family, rest in peace Mark.
Posted by: bennettmark8, ynysddu on 10:36am Sat 3 May 08
Mark Kendall,what a great ambassader to football,with Mark in goal,there was never a dull moment,other than being a great keeper,he was a great entertainer for the crowd,i will never forget those great days at the county,my deepest sympathy to Marks family he would have left many great memories for them to remember,RIP Mark.
Mark Kendall,what a great ambassader to football,with Mark in goal,there was never a dull moment,other than being a great keeper,he was a great entertainer for the crowd,i will never forget those great days at the county,my deepest sympathy to Marks family he would have left many great memories for them to remember,RIP Mark.
Posted by: SOMEONESSON, NEWPORT on 10:37am Sat 3 May 08
very sad news
i was devistated
when i heard yesterday
such a good footballer but an even better police officer who did his job to the best of his abillity mark alwys treated people with fairness,and was a great person to have as a police officer on bettws
Rest in piece mark
your services to gwent police will be greatly missed.
very sad news
i was devistated
when i heard yesterday
such a good footballer but an even better police officer who did his job to the best of his abillity mark alwys treated people with fairness,and was a great person to have as a police officer on bettws
Rest in piece mark
your services to gwent police will be greatly missed.
Posted by: SOMEONESSON, NEWPORT on 10:38am Sat 3 May 08
very sad news
i was devistated
when i heard yesterday
such a good footballer but an even better police officer who did his job to the best of his abillity mark alwys treated people with fairness,and was a great person to have as a police officer on bettws
Rest in piece mark
your services to gwent police will be greatly missed.
very sad news
i was devistated
when i heard yesterday
such a good footballer but an even better police officer who did his job to the best of his abillity mark alwys treated people with fairness,and was a great person to have as a police officer on bettws
Rest in piece mark
your services to gwent police will be greatly missed.
Posted by: gwentman, newport on 9:38pm Sat 3 May 08
One of life's gentlemen and a born entertainer. Never a dull moment. Will miss you Mark.
One of life's gentlemen and a born entertainer. Never a dull moment. Will miss you Mark.
Posted by: simon, newport on 10:47am Sun 4 May 08
great player for newport county and for spurs will be missed
great player for newport county and for spurs will be missed
Posted by: hokydokybloky, Nelson on 4:31pm Sun 4 May 08
The first football league game i ever saw was Newport vs Reading in 1980 and Mark had a brilliant game,i'll remember what a character he was,always showing off his ball juggling skills before the start of the match.The type of character the sport sorely needed at that time.
The first football league game i ever saw was Newport vs Reading in 1980 and Mark had a brilliant game,i'll remember what a character he was,always showing off his ball juggling skills before the start of the match.The type of character the sport sorely needed at that time.
Posted by: smilerlass, cardiff on 7:44pm Sun 4 May 08
I was devasted when I heard the news about Mark the following day. My heart goes out to his family. I have only known Mark since joining Gwent police, he was well respected and always someone who was willing to help. I'm grateful for the knowledge he has given me and thankful for all the times he made those boring lessons very entertaining!!!
Rest in piece Mark, the department will never be the same without you!
I was devasted when I heard the news about Mark the following day. My heart goes out to his family. I have only known Mark since joining Gwent police, he was well respected and always someone who was willing to help. I'm grateful for the knowledge he has given me and thankful for all the times he made those boring lessons very entertaining!!!
Rest in piece Mark, the department will never be the same without you!
Posted by: Gilmore, Poole on 8:55pm Sun 4 May 08
Mark, will be sadly missed by all that have been fortunate to have met him, and for all those like myself lucky enough to have been tutored by him in the police at training school.
Rarely will anyone get to meet a man with such an infectious sense of humour. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Mark, Thanks for the all the help and inspiration you have given to so many.
Rest in Peace
Gavin Haynes
Dorset Police
Mark, will be sadly missed by all that have been fortunate to have met him, and for all those like myself lucky enough to have been tutored by him in the police at training school.
Rarely will anyone get to meet a man with such an infectious sense of humour. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Mark, Thanks for the all the help and inspiration you have given to so many.
Rest in Peace
Gavin Haynes
Dorset Police
Posted by: gooner1971, wales on 10:46pm Sun 4 May 08
my deepest sympathies go to mark,s family i was in school with mark many moons ago in bedwellty and all he ever wan
ted to do was play football.he lived the dream,rest in peace.
my deepest sympathies go to mark,s family i was in school with mark many moons ago in bedwellty and all he ever wan
ted to do was play football.he lived the dream,rest in peace.
Posted by: CHRIS, wolverhampton on 3:57pm Mon 5 May 08
I was a 12 year old wolves fan in the 80's when Mark played for wolves. me and my mate got into the ground by pretending to be ball boys we would sit in the old empty north bank. wolves were doing well so Mark did not have to work too hard in goal on some occasions and would have a laugh and a joke with us before, after and sometimes during games.
deepest sympathies to his family
I will never forget you. rest in peace.
I was a 12 year old wolves fan in the 80's when Mark played for wolves. me and my mate got into the ground by pretending to be ball boys we would sit in the old empty north bank. wolves were doing well so Mark did not have to work too hard in goal on some occasions and would have a laugh and a joke with us before, after and sometimes during games.
deepest sympathies to his family
I will never forget you. rest in peace.
Posted by: TRL07, South Wales on 4:13am Tue 6 May 08
Can't believe that My Uncle Mark is gone. He was best friends with my dad whom he played with at newport county for many years. He was the best man at my dad's wedding and is godfather to both me and my sister. Can't explain how much this LEGEND of a man will be missed. He made an amazing speech at my going away party before i left for university in America. He had every1 just laughing their heads off, that was Uncle Mark, life and soul of the Party. Such a great man, he deserved longer than he was given, but no one could have accomplished more or have been respected more than my Uncle was.
[italic]R.I.P Uncle Mark, you will never be forgotten, i will make sure of that.
See you again sometime big guy,
Tom[/italic][/italic]
Can't believe that My Uncle Mark is gone. He was best friends with my dad whom he played with at newport county for many years. He was the best man at my dad's wedding and is godfather to both me and my sister. Can't explain how much this LEGEND of a man will be missed. He made an amazing speech at my going away party before i left for university in America. He had every1 just laughing their heads off, that was Uncle Mark, life and soul of the Party. Such a great man, he deserved longer than he was given, but no one could have accomplished more or have been respected more than my Uncle was.
R.I.P Uncle Mark, you will never be forgotten, i will make sure of that.
See you again sometime big guy,
Tom
Posted by: badgerpet, Newbridge, Gwent on 2:43pm Fri 9 May 08
I partnered Mark in Gwent Police for nearly a year. There was never a dull moment. A brilliant man to be with. My thoughts go to his family at this time.
I partnered Mark in Gwent Police for nearly a year. There was never a dull moment. A brilliant man to be with. My thoughts go to his family at this time.
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