TONY Stilgoe, one of York’s best all-round sportsmen from the 1960s and 70s, has died at the age of 73.

The former Bradford League cricketer and York City reserve suffered a suspected heart attack at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough, while on holiday with his wife Carol.

Stilgoe, who lived on Fulford Road, was renowned as the quickest bowler in York of his generation and once took 10-3 against Northern Command at Imphal Barracks.

Playing for York’s Midweek XI, the achievement came on his tenth wedding anniversary and included a hat-trick as five victims were clean bowled, four caught and one out leg before.

The army team were shot out for 11 runs in three-quarters-of-an-hour, with York only taking nine minutes to clinch victory in the one-day contest.

Despite never being allowed to bowl for his school team Scarcroft because the cricket master claimed his action was all wrong, Stilgoe played for Clifton, Dringhouses and York before taking his talents to the Bradford League and representing Saltaire, Windhill, Eccleshill and Pudsey St Lawrence, where he once shared the bowling attack with England’s John Snow.

In his first season for Saltaire, Stilgoe finished second in the league’s bowling averages.

He went on to take 101 wickets for Windhill on their way to the second division title in 1973, becoming the first Bradford League cricketer to pass the century mark in any single season for 25 years.

For Eccleshill he became the league’s first player to claim four wickets in four balls for a decade and also won the first division title at Pudsey.

His pace saw him break stumps on at least one occasion and, as a strong batsman as well, he won the Bradford League’s Sir Learie Constantine All-Rounders Trophy in 1973.

Stilgoe’s ability did not go unnoticed on the county scene either and, in trial matches for Derbyshire seconds, he took 3-36 and 2-37 against Lancashire and 4-24 during another contest with Yorkshire Colts before being told, at 31, he was too old for a contract, having initially claimed he was younger.

In recognition of his achievements with ball and bat, Stilgoe was inducted to the York District Senior League’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

As a footballer, Stilgoe was a skilful winger, who played for York City boys, the A team and the reserves.

He also lined up alongside the legendary Billy Bremner in Leeds United’s youth team for half a season, before going on to play as an amateur for the likes of Dringhouses, York Railway Institute, Rowntree’s and Harrogate Railway.

He was a member of the Rowntree’s team that reached the North Riding Cup final in 1966 against Middlesbrough after beating Whitby Town 3-1 in a Bootham Crescent semi-final that attracted 1,735 fans on a Saturday afternoon in March.

Stilgoe was Bridlington Golf Club’s captain in later years and, as well as wife Carol, he leaves behind sons Kevin and Darren and six grand-children.

His funeral will take place at St Oswald’s Church, Fulford, on Thursday, March 31 at 10.30am.

It will be followed by a private interment at Fulford Cemetery with family flowers only, although donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation during the service.