Tony ‘Huggy’ Rhoden has died suddenly at 61.
He was a fixture at Notting Dale’s Harrow Club since the 1980s where he has been credited as helping build skills, confidence and teamwork.
The 6ft 2in coach has been described as “a devoted son, brother, uncle, friend, coach, father figure and pillar of the community”.
Huggy has also been described by those who benefited from his wisdom as ‘much more than a coach’, helping build skills, confidence and teamwork, and always training to a backdrop of pounding music… dancing on the sidelines as he shouted words of encouragement.
Cheryl Oteng, from Hammersmith & Fulham’s sports development team, first encountered Huggy in the early 1990s. She said:
“He coached me at Hammersmith School when I was 11. He coached so many groups in the area; everyone who knows basketball knew Huggy! Everyone saw him as their uncle or dad.”
In his playing days, Huggy, who lived just off Shepherds Bush Green, represented Westside and H&F Men before switching his focus to coaching.
He coached at the Harrow Club three days a week, and it was there that he set up the popular MBS sports club in 2012. He also trained students at Phoenix Academy in White City and at Fulham Cross School, and he worked closely with the council’s sports development team.
He also taught rugby, organised softball picnics and gatherings in Ravenscourt Park, and coached girls representing the borough at the London Youth Games.
A legacy fundraiser has been set up in Huggy’s name, to celebrate his memory, encourage and grow the basketball community and support future young stars. It has already raised more than £7,500.
