Friends' tributes to Gwent sporting hero Teddy Price (From Campaign Series)

Friends' tributes to Gwent sporting hero Teddy Price

12:00am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Sport

GWENT boxing and rugby is mourning the loss of Teddy Price, one of the men who played a role in the professional dominance of Joe Calzaghe.

Mr Price, born and bred in Cwmcarn, died last week at the age of 72 after illness.

Until recently he’s been a regular fixture at Cwmcarn ABC alongside head trainer Gary Butcher, his friend of 65 years.

After leaving Cwmcarn School Mr Price both boxed and played rugby to a good level, winning Welsh youth boxing titles and fighting his way through the weight categories, all the way to heavyweight.

A big rugby supporter, Mr Price played as a lock for both Cwmcarn (helping them to success across three decades and once scoring a record 24 tries in one season) and for Cross Keys.

Due to his association with Keys they are likely to honour their former charge with a minute’s silence in this weekend’s clash with Newcastle.

However, Mr Price was never far from a boxing ring and Eddie Thomas even attempted to turn him professional, no doubt impressed after Price beat Eddie’s brother at an open air show in Merthyr.

Mr Price was also a builders’ merchant based in Abercarn and enjoyed great success in that world too as his friends acknowledge.

“Teddy did well, he had some money I believe but he was never flash with it,” legendary trainer Enzo Calzaghe said.

Mr Price’s expertise in that world came in useful when Cwmcarn RFC needed a new clubhouse, Price one of several men to build with his own hands what became the Team Calzaghe boxing gym. It was originally known as ‘Ted’s Shed’.

“We built that building with our own hands, Teddy and I were actually the trustees of it,” Cwmcarn trainer Butcher remembers.

“We ran it successfully for a number of years and then helped Enzo get hold of it when the council wanted to tear his gym down.”

Price was also one of the trainers in the original Newbridge boxing club, run by Paul Williams, that first encountered a young Joe Calzaghe.

“Teddy and I were friends for 65-years, from our Cwmcarn School days to the boxing, to rugby, to being a trainer at the Newbridge boxing club, he’s always been there in my life,” Butcher said.

“I will miss him more than I can explain and so will boxing and rugby. My heart goes out to his family at this sad time.”

Calzaghe snr recalls “a true gentleman, a family man and someone who if you asked him for something, you knew with 99.9% certainty he’d come through for you and if he couldn’t, he’d work his fingers to the bone trying for you.

“Teddy was what I’d call a high class calibre of person and he’ll be missed, he was very liked and respected around Newbridge, a very humble guy who would always try and help people.”

Mr Price is survived by four daughters, grandchildren and his wife Jan.