Tributes have been paid to a stalwart of an Amman valley cricket team who has died following a short illness.
Gary Phillips scored for Ammanford Cricket Club for more than thirty years, having represented the side as a young man as a left arm spinner.
Club captain Alun Evans said: "Gary was a massive part of the club, but he was well known across the cricketing community.
"All the boys adored him, and he was well liked across the whole leagues. He would come into the dressing room and celebrate with the boys after a win. Cricket meant everything to him.
"He enjoyed a pint after the game, and he was very generous - he would debrief the match, the stats, and buy you a pint. He was kind and very funny. His loss is a massive blow the club. I've had so many messages since he passed.
"We're playing Pontarddulais next week, a big derby game he would have been looking forward to, when we will have a minute's silence. We are obviously rivals on the field, but they are a good bunch of boys, and I've had a lot of calls from them this weekend expressing their sadness".
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Gary, also known as 'The G' and who came from Brynamman, had worked for Carmarthenshire Council. He was 61.
During the coronavirus pandemic, he had opened a tuck shop outside the club in order to raise much-needed funds.
Club chairman and former captain Jeff Roach said: "Gary was very well known in South Wales cricket. He was Ammanford Cricket Club through and through, and loved to talk cricket over a pint.
"He was a Glamorgan supporter, and he will be impossible to replace. Teams across the region knew Gary. Sadly he endured a short illness. His brother was with him when he passed away".
