ern's: Marathon effort in memory of an ex-Swans hero

Friday, January 28, 2011

Marathon effort in memory of an ex-Swans hero

WHEN thousands of fitness fanatics take to the street for the London Marathon, there will be one ex-Swan looking down with pride.

Sarah Rees, 33, is taking on the epic 26.2 mile race for the Alzheimer's Society as her grandfather and former Swans player, Len Emmanuel, suffered with the disease for many years before he passed away last July.

Len, from Treboeth, was believed to be the oldest surviving Swansea City player before he died, and played alongside his brother Tom for their home town club before the Second World War.

And now granddaughter Sarah is looking to score her own goal with her charity run in April.

Sarah, of Lundy Drive, West Cross, said: "My grandfather suffered with Alzheimer's Disease for a long time before he died and was in Cefn Coed Care Home for quite a while.

"When he died I knew I wanted to raise money for the society and decided on the marathon. It is quite a fitting tribute to him.

"Initially he would not remember bits and pieces and towards the end he was just a shell of what he was. It is a horrible, horrible illness and there are so many people who are affected by it as well.

"My nan passed away in 2000 and my dad said that he was glad she didn't see him the way he was at the end."

Len signed for the Swans in 1936 and made his debut a year later, scoring against Nottingham Forest.

Between 1937 and 1939 Len would go on to make 50 appearances for his beloved Swans, scoring four times.

The advent of the Second World War postponed his footballing career and he would serve with the RAF in Italy before marrying Vena.

However, his career resumed with another brief spell at his home town club before moving on to Newport County and Kidderminster Harriers.

A spell as player-manager of Carmarthen Town followed in 1954. And that wasn't the end of the footballing tradition in the family as Len's son and Sarah's dad, Gary, also played for Swansea City during the 1980s.

"My dad Gary, his brother Mike and his sister Gloria, all really looked after my grandad when he was at Cefn Coed and would always take it in turns to visit him and I think he would be proud of me for doing this," Sarah added.

"Training has been going quite well though and I am looking forward to it — it is just the first five minutes which are tough and then you get into it.

"This Sunday will be my first 11-mile run and then I will be adding two miles each week up until the day.

"I want to raise as much money as possible and am aiming for �3,000.

To donate to Sarah's cause go to www.virginmoneygiving. com/sarahrees

robert.goodman@swwmedia.co.uk