HE WAS one of the faces driving Francis Benali through his mammoth fundraising challenge to visit all 44 Premier League and Championship grounds.

Now an inquest has heard how Southampton father Owen Jones died just weeks before his daughter’s wedding, following years of asbestos exposure.

Winchester Coroner’s Court was told the 61-year-old, of Harbourne Gardens, became unwell whilst at a dinner party with friends on July 8.

His wife Susan said in a statement that her husband was running through his speech for the upcoming wedding.

However, she said he suddenly felt unwell and went to lie-down; she then found her husband had died the next morning.

His speech was read out by the best man Terry Settle.

Just two years ago the pair cheered on the the former Saints star Benali during his previous challenge for Cancer Research UK, as he visited all 20 Premier League stadiums.

Whilst lining the street outside St James’ Church in West End, the defender paused to shake hands with Owen, never knowing how much that meant to the father-of-four who had just come out of hospital having collapsed and been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Speaking previously to the Daily Echo, Susan described how Owen was passionate about the fundraising challenge as he knew every penny raised would go to helping people like him in the future.

She said: “He had followed the run from his hospital bed and was very passionate about what he was doing, so despite having only been out of hospital that short time, he was determined to go and cheer Francis on.

“That is why he looks quite frail in the picture our daughter consequently took and why it was a very special moment for our family.”

It was heard in the inquest that Mr Jones had a history of working with asbestos and was in the process of filing a claim for compensation.

The 61-year-old worked for many different companies across the county in jobs that took him to various locations across Europe. In his different engineering roles, Mr Jones was exposed to asbestos on countless occasions.

The court heard how, in the 1970s, he worked on ships, cutting and fitting asbestos insulation – mainly for pipes.

Pathologist Dr Balvinder Shoker confirmed that a malignant mesothelioma tumour was the most likely cause of the father-of-four’s death.

He added that a post mortem examination concluded it was either a mesothelioma or a carcinoma tumour.

Senior coroner Grahame Short recorded a conclusion of death due to industrial disease.

Benali’s epic challenge, which saw him visit all 44 Premier League and Championship ground, came to a close on Sunday (Oct 16) when he arrived at St Mary’s Stadium.

He was given a standing ovation as he entered the ground during half-time in Saints’ 3-1 victory against Burnley.

The two week 1,400 mile feat saw him raise more than £364,000 for Cancer Research UK.