Neath rugby supporters will be saddened to learn that Mrs. Gwladys Mort passed away this morning after a long illness.

“Mrs. Mort” as she was popularly known to players and supporters alike was a well-known figure at The Gnoll where she had watched rugby since the War.

Her husband Harold was a former chairman of the Supporters Club until his death but Mrs. Mort carried on watching her beloved Blacks along with her son Keith who is a great support to visiting officials at The Gnoll.

The family were well known to generations of players and Brian Thomas used to joke that the thing that worried him most about Neath losing was bumping into Mrs. Mort in town the following week as she would always tell him in no uncertain terms where the team had gone wrong and, even in the aftermath of the Blacks completing a Championship and Cup double, was quick to point out “they’ll never be as good as the old ones” !

Due to declining health, Mrs. Mort has been absent for the last couple of seasons and Neath supporters will join in mourning the passing of Neath’s “leading lady” and a real stalwart follower.