Final farewell to legendary Newport football coach Derek Fowle

Mr Fowle, a former English teacher at Newport High School, died at the age of 59 on August 10. 

He was a well known football figure in the area, with many years service in the Newport Schools and Welsh Schools Football Associations. 

Mr Fowle managed hundreds of young players in the city for more than 30 years and played a vital role in the formative years of several future Newport County players, including Michael Flynn, Byron Anthony and Lee Evans.

His funeral was led by Reverend Canon Jennifer Mole at Newport St Woolos Cathedral, which was filled to capacity. 

Described as man who “always had a story attached to him”, Canon Mole noted in her opening that Mr Fowle had compiled an extensive list of what he would like featured in the service.

She said: “All of the poems chosen have a common theme.

“It is the same moral message and the words have hope and trust for the future.

“English teacher Derek is still trying to give us lessons.”

Canon Mole read the first poem, Live Your Life by Chief Tecumseh, which was followed by a hymn of Mr Fowle’s choosing, Hills of the North, Rejoice.

The packed congregation then heard a short obituary of Mr Fowle’s life, which had been put together from notes he had left behind.

Born in Pill, Mr Fowle attended Alexandra Road school. As a teenager, he returned there to help pupils with Maths and English in his spare time before taking them out onto the football pitch.

Between 1975 and 1978, he was a student in Cardiff teacher training college and went on to spend 33 years teaching at Newport High School.

Mr Fowle described the birth of his daughter, Lydia, as the proudest moment in his life when he was the “ripe old age” of 44.

Following retirement in 2007, he enjoyed skiing across Europe and playing tennis at Stow Park Tennis Club with his friends.

However, teaching was never far from his mind and he soon took up a post at Charles Street Community Learning Centre.

In his final notes, modestly, Mr Fowle made no mention of his sizeable contribution to youth football in South Wales, which included a stint as an academy scout for Swansea City. 

Tellingly, though, members of the football community were there in numbers and Newport County legends Michael Flynn and Byron Anthony were among those in attendance yesterday.

In “expecting to be here” Mr Fowle did leave a moving letter behind, which was read by Canon Mole. 

It read: “I would like to thank you all for being here today. I’m humbled. 

“I would like you to remember all the happy times we shared. The hospitality and camaraderie were greatly appreciated.

“I will do my best to reciprocate when we meet in another place another time. It has been a privilege and a pleasure.”

Huw Jenkins, one of Mr Fowle’s oldest friends from college, then gave a humorous eulogy, pointing out how Mr Fowle should have been a policeman as he could “clock a face from 100 yards”.

As a result, while on their regular sojourns to Scotland together, the pair had bumped into the likes of actress Emma Thompson, singer Gary Barlow, rugby player Gavin Henson and golfer Seve Ballesteros.

He added: “Some of the stories I could tell you…I could go on forever.

“Derek would never say a bad word about anyone. He always had a smile on his face.

“When I was having a downer, he would tell a joke.

“That’s how I’ll remember him.”

Mr Jenkins then read another of Mr Fowle’s chosen poems, Noel Coward – Where I Have Fears, before Mr Fowle’s brother-in-law, Steve, read Santana’s Free As The Morning Sun. 

The closing hymn was Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven, which was chosen by the family.

The funeral was followed by a private service at Gwent Crematorium in Cwmbran, before a gathering at the Stow Park Tennis Club.

Mr Fowle is survived by his daughter, Lydia, his sister, Glynis, and his brother-in-law, Steve. Donations for St Anne’s Hospice may be sent c/o Tovey Bros, 9/11 Cardiff Road, Newport, NP29 2EH.