Afternoon all I was sad to read of the passing of Jimmy. There's a thread on our board about him and his involvement in a Welsh Cup replay in 1966. You'll enjoy the read but it brings back traumatic memories for me and my fellow Bluebirds. RIP Jimmy
Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo, who collapsed on the pitch after suffering an irregular heartbeat last week, has died, his Club Nacional team has announced. The 27-year-old had been undergoing medical treatment since he collapsed during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores match of 16 tie against Sāo Paulo at Brazil’s Morumbi stadium on 22 August. “It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo,” Nacional wrote on X. “We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. All of Nacional is in mourning for his irreparable loss.” RIP
Sol Bamba, the former Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City and Hibernian defender, has died at the age of 39. The Ivory Coast centre-back, who began his career with Paris St-Germain and also played for Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, was part of the Cardiff side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2018. He overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 during his playing days at Cardiff and had been working at Turkish club Adanaspor, who announced the news on Saturday night. A statement from Adanaspor said: "Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community." Cardiff said the news was received with "the deepest sadness", describing Bamba as a "club legend" and adding: "As a player and coach, Sol's impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman." Taken far too young. RIP
Swansea City is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Derek Draper at the age of 81. The Welsh inside-forward was an influential figure in the Swans run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup during the 1963-64 season, and scored 14 goals in 79 appearances in all competitions. A classy player, capped by Wales at under-23 level, Draper was raised in the Greenhill area of Swansea and attended Hafod School prior to joining the ground staff at the Vetch in 1962. He made his first-team debut against Newcastle United in March 1963, scoring the winner, and he also netted an important brace in a FA Cup third-round replay against Sheffield United the following season. After leaving Swansea in April 1966 to join Derby County, Draper went on to have spells with Bradford Park Avenue and Chester City. He was the latter’s leading marksman during the 1972-73 season, and played a starring role as they won promotion and reached the League Cup semi-finals in 1974-75. RIP
