A HUGE crowd gathered in Holton Road today to convey their support for talented footballer and ‘bright light’ Corey Price.

Hundreds of people packed St Mary’s church to pay tribute to 17-year-old Corey who died tragically when the car he was travelling in was in collision with another car on the A470 near the Storey Arms in Brecon on Friday, March 6.

Corey’s was the final funeral service related to the crash which also claimed the lives of friends Alesha O’Connor and Rhodri Miller, 17 and also of Barry, and grandmother Margaret Challis, of Merthyr.

In a touching tribute to Corey, dad Lee Price told the congregation and the crowd listening to the service outside the church, he had been proud to have been chosen as his father and for that he was eternally grateful.

He said: "God has blown the final whistle, not even the big man as a Man U fan could get me some Fergie time. Goodnight God bless my sunshine."

Father Ben Andrews, who has officiated at two of the three teenagers’ funerals, said Corey was "a bright light, a talented footballer, and a popular young man.”

He said: “The tragic days we are experiencing are like a blackout. One minute the sun is shining and the next we are in darkness. Everything has changed. Nothing will ever be the same again. When a blackout occurs we reach for some kind of light.”

He said Corey was a gifted footballer, he loved Nandos and his hot sauce, his trainers, his weekly haircut, Nutella and carrots and returned from a post-school independent-of-parents holiday in Newquay describing it as “the best holiday ever.”

He disliked doing the dishes, people being upset and loneliness.

The former Ysgol St Curig and Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg pupil was also a talented rugby player, showing exemplary leadership skills, but it was at football he excelled as a midfielder.

Corey, he said, “had a quick foot, a good work rate. He also had this ability to read the game and that put him into the heart of the action. He also had a great degree of humility and humbleness.”

David Swain, father of Corey's friend Luke, paid tribute to Corey's football skills at the Cardiff City Academy where he had spent eight to nine years, since the age of seven, progressing upwards through the various stages with staff believing he could have made it into the professional football arena.

Corey’s Bro Morgannwg head teacher, Dr Dylan Jones who read the poem Death Is Nothing At All, said Corey was a well liked and cherished member of the school.

“He will always be one of us,” he said.

Mike, addressing those present, said Corey’s family wanted to express their feelings of gratitude to all who have supported them following Corey’s death including South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys police and the family liaison officers, and the Cardiff City and Newport County football clubs.

He said: “They would like to thank the community of Barry as well for their kind words, love and affection that has been forthcoming from you all. It has been a great source of comfort for them.”

Sam Smith's Lay Me Down was played as Corey's coffin was taken into church and True Colours sounded out into the town as he was returned to the cortege for burial at Barry Cemetery.

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