A CHARITY football match will be held at Rodney Parade to celebrate the life of a popular Newport man who played a vital role in community projects there.

Phil James, from Caerleon, worked for the Newport Gwent Dragons in the club’s education set-up for over a decade. He died at the start of the year.

On Tuesday, a charity football match between Welsh Government and National Assembly officials will take place at the ground where Mr James was based after joining from Malpas Court Primary School in 2002.

He had initially only intended to work there for six months.

Mr James’ nephew Tom James, who works for the Welsh Government, said he had been allowed to use the pitch at Rodney Parade for free – a sign of how much Mr James was respected there.

Funds will be collected for Bowel Cancer UK.

Mr James helped cultivate some critical players for the Dragons, including Lewis Evans and Ashley Smith, after they were brought through the Newport Schools under-11s district team.

After Mr James died, a statement on behalf of his family – his wife, Sharon, and children, Bryan, Emma-Rose, Lydia and Matthew – said: “Those who knew Phil will know how important his family were to him, how much he adored his wife and how proud he was of his children. We are left with broken hearts but countless happy memories.”

The match on Tuesday will kick off at 6pm and to donate to the fundraising effort visit justgiving.com/Tom-James8.