A 'MODEST' man who 'did things his way' was how the family of former Oswestry footballer and all-around sports fanatic has described their dad, husband and father-in-law after his death aged 92.

Keith Thomas, born and raised in Oswestry, played nearly 100 Football League appearances at Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City in the 1950s, as well as a spell at his home team Oswestry Town.

At his funeral, a eulogy was delivered by his daughter Jane with Keith's second wife Barbel and daughter-in-law Cathy Thomas, who was married to his son Andy who has passed away, said he was a former teacher who loved his golf so much that he incorporated it into his parental duties.

The eulogy was delivered by Jane.

She said: "Keith always had great ways to babysit while he was looking after Andy and me.

"We played in most bunkers at Oswestry and Llanymynech golf clubs, and dad taught us to rake it as he moved them on to the bunker at the next hole.

"As we got older we could play on the “cliff” at Llanymynech or caddie at Oswestry. You got a chocolate bar at the ninth hole to keep you going for the 18 holes."

Keith worked as a fitness trainer in the armed forces, with a number of domestic and foreign postings, but he always managed to wangle a way back to Oswestry to be near family and to play golf.

She added: "Captain Keith Thomas was back among his family and he was back at Oswestry Golf Course.

"He was always coming home with prizes and cups but never made any mention of winning anything.

"He continued to travel to and from Park Hall when we moved to Condover, but was then transferred to the barracks in Shrewsbury.

"He did most of the cooking as he would be home before mum. I loved his mushrooms on toast."

She added: "He continued his golf up until the end. When he came home from hospital for the last time his putters were still propped up in the corner.

"He was a fun dad, and he always told me he would be a better grandfather than dad. He was so proud of Helen, Richard, Kim and Matthew.

"He talked of his pride and his love for them."

He also famously hit a 364-yard hole-in-one at Aston which was immortalised as a cartoon.