Barry Town recently commemorated the 30th anniversary of the tragic death of midfielder Mattie Holtam, who lost his life in a motorway accident on the way home from an away match at Rhyl in 1996. To honor Mattie's memory, the club organized a memorial match at Jenner Park against a Manchester United XI, which took place a few months after his passing. Originally from Cardiff, Mattie joined Luton Town shortly after his 16th birthday, where he made a significant impact as an apprentice and youth team captain.

During his apprenticeship with Luton, Mattie showcased his talent by playing 45 youth team games and 24 reserve matches, in addition to representing Wales Youth five times alongside notable players like Ryan Giggs. After a brief stint with Cardiff City, where he suffered a knee injury, Mattie moved to Merthyr Tydfil in January 1993, competing in the Conference (now National League) for two and a half years before joining Barry Town in the summer of 1995.

In the 1995-96 season, Mattie made 33 appearances for Barry Town, including 20 starts in the League of Wales, contributing to the club's first national league title. He scored his first goal in a 6-1 League Cup victory over Llanelli, and netted the winning goal in a crucial 1-0 away match against Aberystwyth. One of his most memorable performances came in a 2-0 home win over Cemaes Bay, where his free-kicks led to both goals, coinciding with the sad passing of chairman Neil O’Halloran, who had brought him to the club.

The memorial match in October 1996 drew around 5,000 fans to Jenner Park, where Barry faced a Manchester United XI, with Dave Norman scoring Barry's consolation goal in a 4-1 defeat. As part of Barry's Football in the Community initiative, Mattie was a familiar face at Barry Island Primary School, where he engaged with young fans as a match ball-boy. His legacy continues to resonate with the club and its supporters, as Barry Town remembers Mattie Holtam 30 years later. Rest in Peace, Mattie.