When they travelled down in their hundreds from Maesteg to watch a Christmas or Easter derby against Bridgend they knew the afternoon would be a hard one if they saw the name of Ian Stephens on the home team-sheet.
Those days of decades ago saw the then in-their-pomp Old Parish able to field packs that included granite-hard campaigners such as Gary Howe, Billy Howe, John Morgan, David Williams and John Thomas, but Ikey, as Stephens was affectionately known, always stood his ground.
He would front up for dates with Neath against formidable opponents such as Brian Williams, Stuart Evans and Phil Pugh. Others might have developed Neath flu for such occasions, a mystery virus that struck every time a date with the relentlessly physical Welsh All Blacks of that era beckoned. Ikey didn’t. One game saw him bang on the front line, tussling ferociously with the 20st Evans, who, most with long memories would agree, was not a man to tussle with.
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But Ikey was never afraid of a challenge, whether it involved the muck and bullets of a club encounter or a Test for Wales or the Lions, for whom he played against New Zealand in 1983, propping against bronze medal-winning Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight wrestler Gary Knight.
The 13-cap Stephens confronted every such issue head-on. It was the only way he knew.
Such a mindset is still with him today, at the age of 70.
But the matter on his mind now means more to him than any problem he faced on a rugby field, and it’s one that occupies his thoughts pretty much all day and every day.
It involves his only daughter, Martine Peel, who is battling ovarian cancer, with the diagnosis coming in February of last year. She has already undergone gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and two surgical interventions, the most recent of which discovered an inoperable pelvic tumour.
Her bravery since learning of her illness has known no bounds. “Like a lion,” says Ikey of Martine. Husband Darren and daughters Darcy and Teiya are similarly awed by the courage of the lady they and the whole family treasure.
The fight to overcome life-threatening illness is one many individuals and families will be familiar with. It brings with it a cloud of anxiety. But it can also bring to the fore the best human qualities.
“We are doing everything we can to stay positive,” said Ikey.
“It’s been going on for 18 months and, of course, we were devastated when we heard. It’s been a nightmare for all of us, and we have our ups and downs. It’s very difficult.
“But we are not giving up hope. We’re staying strong and hoping Martine will get through it.
“Her husband Darren has been a rock, while my son Marcus and his mother Jackie have been excellent as well. We’re all in this together — the whole family.”
No stone is being left unturned in the fight to help Martine, who now journeys for experimental treatment at a clinic in Istanbul. The trip itself can be arduous: “She has been flying from Stansted, which is a fair old way for her to travel before she even gets on a plane,” said her dad.
“She then has a four-hour flight to Istanbul, where she has treatment for three days, returns home for 10 days and then goes back for another three days. As we speak she’s on the plane now, coming home. Darren, her husband, is with her. Like I say, he’s been outstanding.”
Martine hopes her story will raise awareness of ovarian cancer, saying: “The illness is difficult to diagnose but I’d urge people to get checked out if they have concerns. The earlier it’s picked up, the better the survival chances. If this article helps one woman who reads it, I’ll be happy.”
The 49-year-old hails all her family, from her “amazing” mum and “brilliant” dad down, joining her father in applauding the efforts of her brother, too. Immensely proud of, and grateful for, her two daughters and the husband who’s been at her side throughout, she has been buoyed by having every one of them in her corner.
Of course, cost has been an issue with which the family have had to grapple, with cutting-edge treatment not coming cheap. It’s estimated Martine’s will amount to at least £75,000. With various other costs, the financial challenges are obvious.
But the response has been superb. A fundraising page has been set up here.
“People have been so generous and thoughtful,” said Ian.
“My granddaughter Darcy is in college, Teiya is in school. Their friends can’t really afford it, but they have been putting in five or ten pounds each. I would rather they hadn’t dipped into their pockets, because they are students and pupils and everyone knows it can be tough for youngsters nowadays but they are good people and I can’t thank them enough.
“Yes, you could say my faith in human nature has been restored.
“I’ve had former team-mates with Bridgend, Wales and the Lions helping out. My old Lions team-mate Steve Boyle, from Gloucester, was one, while the boys I played alongside at Bridgend have been good, with a few putting serious money in. It’s astounding.
“Costs do add up with all that has to be factored in. It can work out at up to £6,000 a time. The treatment could go on for months but we’re hoping it will work.”
There is a fund-raising dinner arranged for October 14 at the Vale Resort. Thirty-two Lions will pitch up to lend their support. “Everyone I’ve spoken to from my era didn’t hesitate. People like Derek Quinnell, Steve Fenwick, Eddie Butler and Tommy David will all be there supporting, along with Brynmor Williams, Elgan Rees, Rob Jones, Gwyn Evans, Terry Holmes, Gareth Davies, Dai Richards, Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price and plenty of others — as good as gold, every one of them.
“I’m hoping to get Simon Easterby to attend if he can make it, and a couple of young ones like Gethin Jenkins. I had a lot to do with Gethin in his early days, with the under-21s. Tom Shanklin is filming but if he can get back he will. We’re hoping there’ll be over 300 people there.
“There’ll be some raffle prizes that have been donated and some auction prizes.
“Gareth Edwards has a commitment that he can’t get out of but he’s donated a print of the greatest try, for the Barbarians against New Zealand.
“We’re hoping Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne will come. He’s marrying my mate’s daughter on Saturday and I’m going to the wedding. He doesn’t know if Ireland will be in camp when the dinner is held, with the same going for Simon Easterby.
“Tadhg donated a jersey signed by the Ireland squad after their recent series win over New Zealand and the journalist Peter Jackson has donated an autographed Lions shirt.”
The Lions as an organisation are renowned for providing assistance to former players in times of distress, illness or struggle, with the world-famous tourists helping out Stephens’ old team-mate and pal Gareth Williams before he passed away in 2018. “I rang them up and asked if there was a bit of financial help for him, and they didn’t hesitate,” said Ikey. Now it’s the old prop and his family who are enduring their own challenges. Aid when they need it most would be timely.
So many in the rugby family and beyond have rallied to offer support.
Ikey has known nothing like it. “Nothing compares to this,” he said.
“This is a battle we have to win — it’s about my daughter and we are determined to support her every step of the way..
“I just want to thank everyone. All the help means so much.”
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