A 'TRIBUTE' match is taking place tomorrow in memory of a rugby referee from Castle Bromwich who collapsed and died on the pitch in front of horrified players and spectators. Popular Tony McDonald, 51, who lived in West Avenue, slumped to the ground during Bloxwich Rugby Club's home match against Droitwich Thirds on Saturday. The father-of-five died of natural causes. Members of his family are to travel to Aldridge, near Walsall, for tomorrow's commemorative game. Last weekend, shocked spectators saw Mr McDonald try to stand up but, as players ran to his aid in a desperate bid to help, he collapsed again. Bloxwich team captain Kevin Pitt, a firefighter, tried in vain to resuscitate him. Mr McDonald was taken to W a l s a l l Manor Hospital, where his death was confirmed. The match was abandoned as a mark of respect. Bloxwich Rugby Club has announced its badge is to carry a black border in Mr McDonald's memory. Secretary Jim Rudge said: "I was only chatting to him before the game and he was a lovely, affable chap. "It is a real tragedy and we will observe a minute's silence for him before our next match, on Saturday, away at Aldridge." Mr McDonald met his wife-tobe Mary, a teacher, when he was deputy head at St John The Baptist RC Primary School, Chelmsley Wood. The couple had been married 15 years. He had a son Paul, 30, from his first marriage and Mary has two daughters Anna, 26 - a former trainee journalist with the Solihull Times - and Laura, 24. Mr and Mrs McDonald also had two daughters together - Emily, 14, and 12-year-old Rosemarie. Anna, who went on to become the Evening Mail's Solihull reporter and now works in public relations, said Tony's death had devastated the family. But they were comforted by the fact he died doing what he loved most, being involved with rugby. She said: "Tony was so well known around Castle Bromwich and within the rugby community. "He was a member and former player at Old Saltleians RFC at Water Orton and organised a summer ball and a New Year's Eve party every year for members and their families. "He was the sort of person who never thought of himself but always of others." For the past year, Mr McDonald had been a schools' inspector for Peterborough Education Authority. n The funeral is at St Anthony's RC Church, Kingshurst, at 10.30am on Wednesday. Died: referee Tony McDonald. ..SUPL: | 
