EMILY Atack broke down in tears of joy after learning about her great-grandfather’s impact on Welsh football.
Appearing on BBC‘s Who Do You Think You Are? Emily dived into her family history, learning about her performing roots and her surprising family link to Wales.
Emily Atack was moved to tears over her great grandfather Ted
The one hour special dived into her family’s history and love of the arts and sport
Emily also learnt of another tragic event that happened to another family member
Earlier in the episode, Emily found out she had links to Ireland but it was her connection to Wales that moved her to tears.
Learning that her great grandad Ted Robbins was a Wrexham FC football secretary, the star headed to North Wales to find out more.
Walking onto the football grounds, she immediately paused to take in the “connection” with her grandad Mike [Ted’s son], who always spoke about Wrexham.
She met with Professor Martin Johnes to learn more and opened with: “I can not tell you how special this is.”
Martin corrected Emily and said: “First thing is he wasn’t the secretary of Wrexham football club he was actually security of The Football Association of Wales, and that meant that he basically ran football in this country.”
A delighted Emily couldn’t quite believe it as she batted back in disbelief: “He was like in charge of all of Welsh football!”
After learning how Ted scouted players and was known for his kind nature, her smile soon changed to tears when she read Ted’s obituary.
She read: “Wales loses Ted Robbins. By his passing, the home of football has lost one of its greatest, most loveable characters, Ted Robbins was one of nature’s noblemen.”
Choking back the tears as she read how he positively impacted the country, she continued: “The more you knew him… [she paused to fight back the tears] the deeper that feeling went.
“He was always the same, bluf, hearty and welcoming with his big frame and happy small and his enviable disposition.”
She added: “I just feel like all the men in my family are like this.”
“This is where all those personalities have come from, and I just didn’t know!” she ended.
The professor pointed out that it said, “Wales loses Ted Robbins” to which she replied: “It makes me understand more now, my grandad Mike was obsessed with watching Wrexham, it was everything to him, and I just never knew the real reasons why.
“I am so proud, unbelievably proud.”
Also in the episode she learnt about the tragic passing of her great-great-grandfather Joseph Atack.
Who Do You Think You Are? is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
Who Do You Think You Are? is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
