Last updated at 19:42, Thursday, 05 July 2012

Workington Town president Ken Wilson has died, aged 78.

PRESIDENT: Ken Wilson

Mr Wilson was one of the rugby league club’s most loyal stalwarts.

He held most official titles at the Derwent Park club including lifelong fan, director and chairman.

He died on Tuesday following a short cancer battle.

Current club chairman Dave Bowden led the tributes to Mr Wilson.

He said: “There is a huge sense of loss at the club at this sad news.

“Ken was always there to help the club, particularly in helping to bring young local players to the club, a cause close to his heart.

“He supported the club through the good times and even more so through the bad times.

“You could guarantee when times got tough Ken would appear at an away fixture to show support and offer advice.

“The club has lost one of its most loyal stalwarts, and for many of us at the club a great friend. Our thoughts are with all of Ken’s nearest and dearest at this very sad time.”

Mr Wilson was a student of Town’s history, and had an amazing recollection of players, Mr Bowden added.

Mr Wilson was so popular at the club that an end-of-season trophy given to the Players’ Player of the Year was named in his honour.

He once forked out £600 so that 100 young junior fans could get into Derwent Park for free as Town took on York City Knights in the quarter final of the Northern Rail Cup.

Mr Wilson was the father of Dovenby rally boss Malcolm Wilson, who runs M-Sport, and grandfather of Ford’s World Rally Championship driver Matthew.

A successful businessman, Mr Wilson ran a scrapyard in Branthwaite and also owned TMS Motor Spares, which has 22 branches across Cumbria, the North East and Scotland.

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 05 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk