Graham Gittins totalled 444 appearances for Pontypridd RFC, but that was just the start of seven decades of dedication to the club
Tributes have been paid following the death of an “all-time great” Pontypridd RFC player. The popular club said they were “devastated” on Thursday following the news that club legend and “true gentleman” Graham Gittins died at the age of 89.
Hundreds of people paid tribute to Graham, who dedicated over 70 years of his life to the club as a player, captain and later supporter and official, with many saying it won’t be the same without him on a match day.
Last year Graham was honoured by the club when they renamed the Gibby Bar at their Sardis Road ground the Graham Gittins Lounge to recognise the contribution that he made to the club over so many years.
Playing as a prop forward, Graham totalled 444 appearances for the club between 1954 and 1969. Get the latest Ponty news first by signing up to our newsletter here
In a tribute the club said that during his playing career Graham “was regarded as one of the very best uncapped props in the Welsh game”, but like many players for the so-called “unfashionable” clubs, he failed to attract the attention of the selectors.
Pontypridd said he might have got that cap had he moved to another club but “he remained loyal to Pontypridd RFC all of his long life”.
Graham’s playing days came to an end in April 1969 when he turned out for a farewell appearance against a Mid District XV at Ynysangharad Park. For a long time Graham was in second place after Bob Penberthy in the list of total appearances until overtaken by Dale ‘Chief’ McIntosh.
Noting his “wicked sense of humour”, the club said Graham always used to pull the Chief’s leg, saying that “in his day you had to be in the starting XV to get an appearance and not come on as a substitute for five minutes at the end of a game”.
Back in Graham’s heyday the team changed in the swimming baths, now the lido, and it was a long walk to the playing field at the other end of the park.
Club Historian Alun Granfield remembers Graham telling him: “Yes it was a long walk, but it was a lot longer walking back in the rain after a defeat.”
At the end of his playing career Graham took over the role of fixture secretary, a role that has disappeared with the advent of the leagues. It was the task of the fixture secretary to arrange the fixture list for the following season, a task that involved negotiation and persuasion in equal measure to try to improve the list.
Graham’s reputation as a player helped him greatly in this respect and during his time many excellent fixtures, particularly with English clubs, were added to Pontypridd’s list and likewise added to the club’s growing reputation.
Pontypridd RFC said Graham would be remembered as a “rugby man”, but also “as a friend and companion in the clubhouse and on many rugby trips in the following years”.
Alun added: “He had a wicked sense of humour and those of us who travelled with him on Cenydd Thomas’ bus to away games remember being woken from a snooze on the way home with a tap on the head a or a tweaked ear, with the cry ‘no sleeping on tour’, a rule he brought with him from his playing days.”
The tribute from the club added: “His knowledge of the game and love of Pontypridd RFC made him a stern critic when things were not going well on or off the field, but he never wavered in his support for the club he had served so well for so many years.
“Last year the club renamed the Gibby Bar at Sardis Road the Graham Gittins Lounge to honour the contribution that Graham has made to Pontypridd RFC over seven decades.
“Everyone at Pontypridd RFC would like to pass on its sincerest condolences to Graham’s wife Gill, son Ian and the rest of his family and friends at this extremely difficult time – you’re all in our thoughts.”
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