CHRIS RHODES, who won the Northern Counties East League with York Railway Institute in 1988 and also played Yorkshire League cricket, has died, aged 57.

He passed away after a year-long battle with face cancer, and his funeral will take place on Thursday at York Crematorium, at 10.20am. All are welcome.

Selby-based Rhodes was born in Wrexham in 1959 but moved with his family to Yorkshire as a young child in 1966.

As a youngster he was on the books of Sheffield United and Bradford City but played his career in non-League football.

Generally a wing-back or left-half, he starred for York RI in their Northern Counties East League glory days, when they won the 1987-88 league and cup double under Ronnie Mollatt, beating neighbours Rowntrees in the cup final.

He also played for Selby Town in the NCEL, and for York Locomotive and The Buck Inn, Rufforth, in the York Sunday League, as well as at a good level in the Heavy Woollen area. He was also player-manager of York RI's reserves team in the NCEL reserve division.

Rhodes was also a notable cricketer, keeping wicket for Castleford in the Yorkshire League. He also played for Birstall in the Central Yorkshire League and for York RI in the York & District Senior League.

Outside of sport, he was a miner at Fryston and Stillingfleet before starting his own fixture and fitting business.

He leaves behind wife Andrea, sons Martyn and Gareth, three grandchildren, his dad Trevor and a brother, Nigel.

The funeral will be followed by a wake at Selby Rugby Union Club in Sandhill Lane.

Donations are asked to be made to St Leonard's Hospice, York.