It is with great sadness that we create this JustGiving page. On Thursday 19th November, after a determined and courageous fight against cancer we lost a Swansea and Wales great Helen ‘Budgie’ Grandon, arguably Wales’ greatest ever female goalkeeper. Helen represented Wales and Great Britain, winning a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games and returning to her hometown of Porthcawl to a hero’s welcome. 

It was at Porthcawl Comprehensive where Helen fell in love with hockey under the tutorship of International player Jackie Williams. It was Jackie who took Helen to Swansea Ladies as a 13 year old. It did not take long for Helen to establish herself as the first team goalkeeper with her incredible ability to shot stop, and her formidable dominance of the circle. 

There were not many that got past Helen but if they did, we all knew about it; an absolute professional who through her dedication and drive went on to win every accolade there was a particular favourite was winning the Goalkeeper of the tournament at the European A Division Club finals in Holland.

Her prowess and unflappable nature could not go unrecognised, culminating in her selection for Great Britain. Fearless in her goalkeeping and fearless off the pitch, Helen did not stop there and also went on to play football for Wales against Iceland in Port Talbot.

On retiring, Helen followed in her father’s footsteps and went into coaching, working in Porthcawl, coaching and inspiring local primary school children with her Olympic medal and stories from the Olympics. 

Off the field you could not meet a humbler and kinder person, known for her smile and infectious laugh, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. It was that twinkle that brought her and Mike together and soon to follow their sons Matt and James. Helen lived for her family and friends, spending many very happy holidays with the family at Jackie and Dave’s villa in Spain and enjoying lots of nights out in Swansea with her teammates. 

Helen will be greatly missed by us all and our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with her family, Mike and the two boys at this very sad time. 

Here are some of her team mates' memories of her;

• 'She was one in a million. You could pass the ball back to her from the left near half way line and she’d kick down the right. She was an amazing player.'

• 'What a keeper that I looked up to, even though I didn’t really know her. An amazing keeper.'

• 'Swansea, Wales & GB hockey legend but most of all a loyal, fun and lovely person.'

• 'Always smiling and an infectious laugh. A keeper who helped the whole team throughout a game. But you got to your player if she shouted!'

• 'She always gave me complete and utter confidence when playing in front of her ! Her GB place was so well deserved. I always remember her infectious smile and being a true friend.'

• 'We were great friends- even when she used to clear me out as well as the ball! A rare talent.'

• 'Budgie was truly one of a kind. She was so supportive to me as a player when I joined Swansea and always went out of her way to give my confidence a boost when I needed it. Lots of good memories.'

• 'I remember how brave she was as a GK, scary in fact, always glad she was on my team, and this bravery has been transferred into the way she lived her life.' 

Fly High Budgie