GWENT was saying goodbye to a footballing hero today.

The funeral service for former Newport County footballer Ray Wilcox, who died at the age of 81, was being held at Cwmbran's Gwent crematorium at 2.30pm today.

After suffering from Alzheimer's disease for six years, Mr Wilcox, who lived in Hollybush, Cwmbran, developed a perforated ulcer which led to his death at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital on January 26.

A minute's silence was observed at Newport County's match against Swansea on Tuesday in honour of the man who spent his entire career at the club.

His widow, Margaret, 77, who was at his bedside when he died, said: "He was a really funny, smart and lovely man. As a centre-half that was tough to beat, and they called him the 'hard man', but he was a real gentleman who would help anybody off the pitch."

Mr Wilcox captained County to the fifth round of the FA cup in the 1948-1949 season. He signed in 1939 and played until 1969, when he became a trainer. Sir Stanley Mathews played at his 20-year testimonial - and he was one of only six players to receive a silver statuette for playing for the same club for more than 20 years.

Newport County chairman Wallace Brown, 51, said: "Ray Wilcox made more than 500 appearances for Newport and was a trainer after that for many years.

"He epitomised an era when long service to one club was more common. The immaculately observed minute's silence on Tuesday was a mark of the great impact he had on the club." Born in Treharris, Mr Wilcox lived most of his life in Newport and Cwmbran.

He had one son, Robert, who is now 55, with his first wife, Hilda, who died in 1980, but also became stepfather to widowed Margaret's children.

During the war Mr Wilcox was a PE instructor for the air force, near St Andrew's golf course in Scotland.

He was later transferred to India, where he toured with other professional footballers on a morale-boosting tour.

Mrs Wilcox said: "He had a really full and interesting life until he became ill. He loved football, and even when he retired in 1970 he went into schools to train kids. We had a lot of good times together and I will miss him."

* Pictured: Former Newport County captain Ray Wilcox in his playing days