THE heartbroken widow of a footballer who collapsed and died two months after their wedding says he was a wonderful husband and father.
Speaking from her home in Hazlitt Close, Gaer, yesterday, Victoria Collier said happiness turned to tragedy when her husband, Peter, collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack during a soccer match.
The 36-year-old was playing for Lliswerry during a Newport and District League second-team match at Longbridge Fields in Risca.
"When he left during the morning he was fine," said Mrs Collier, as she looked at their wedding photographs.
"He went to his dad's and ate a bacon sandwich, leaving at about 1pm.
"He drove to Risca himself, and at 4pm I received a call telling me he had been involved in an accident, but they knew he was dead already."
Mrs Collier showed the Argus her wedding photographs, and said: "It's hard to think that it was just two months ago when all these pictures were taken, but at least I've got them.
"He was just wonderful. He was wonderful to me, wonderful to my daughter and a wonderful father to Alex.
"He was beautiful and had a lovely family. He was very hard working and so kind to everybody."
Mr Collier, who worked at Bisley Office Equipment, was confirmed dead on arrival at the city's Royal Gwent Hospital on Saturday despite frantic efforts to save his life after he collapsed two minutes before half-time.
Tributes have poured in from the football club, with members describing the Tottenham Hotspur fan as a "fabulous guy" who had a "gorgeous" personality.
"He has played for the club since he was 17," said Mrs Collier, 28.
"He was passionate about the club. He would never miss a game - everything else would revolve around it."
The couple met over six years ago during a night out in Newport. They were married on October 22 last year at the Peterstone Lakes Golf Club, in Marshfield, and were planning a holiday at Disneyland Paris this weekend.
Mr Collier, who enjoyed playing golf, loved cars and was a regular at the Excelsior Institute in Corporation Road, Newport, leaves Victoria, his son, Alex, nine, stepdaughter Lydia, eight, father, Peter, mother, Marilyn, and two sisters, Tracey and Beverley.
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