THE York bowls fraternity are mourning the death of one of the city’s finest players.

As reported in The Press on Tuesday, Eddie Gill died aged 67 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for a decade.

Ex-team-mate John Stroughair paid tribute to the former postman, who won countless national, county and local bowls titles.

“He was an unassuming fellow but, because of his honesty and sportsmanship, he was extremely popular,” said Stroughair.

“He played to win but he was a great bloke to play with and have a pint with afterwards. He never fell out with anybody.”

Gill, who worked at Rowntrees before becoming a postman, took up bowls with Bootham after badly breaking a leg playing football.

In 1987, he switched to Haxby Road Bowls Club, where he played with Stroughair.

The pair were also part of a strong York contingent in the Yorkshire team that won the county championship, or Middleton Cup, in 1990.

Stroughair said: “There were 24 players in the team and 17 of them played in the York league.

“The team had a unique bond because we all knew each other so well.

“We had a presentation night and the biggest cheer was when Eddie went up to get his trophy.”

That 1990 triumph was the last time Yorkshire lifted the Middleton Cup, although the current county crop are on course for a long overdue repeat.

Gill’s list of county titles included the triples in 1988 and 1996, while he was runner-up in 1987.

He won the Yorkshire fours in 1996 and was runner-up in the pairs in 1995, and a series of local titles were on his honours list.

While also representing Yorkshire on the indoor and outdoor greens, Gill played on the national stage in Post Office and Civil Service competition, winning the British Isles Civil Service Fours Championship.

Stroughair added: “He played lead, so he bowled the jack and set the situation up. I would say he was one of the best there has ever been in that position.

“He was one of the first names down on the teamsheet because people wanted to play with him in competitions.

“Most people want to become skipper and be involved at the end, but Eddie was content to build the platform.”

Gill was an all-round sportsman, becoming a key member of the famous Rowntrees football side under manager Jim Collis in the 1970s, while also playing cricket.

Stroughair said: “I never saw him play football, but in his day I gather he was one of the best around locally. He was a first-rate wing half.

“He was also a good cricketer, apparently, and a particularly good fielder because he was so quick.”

In later life, Gill was also involved in running the old Civil Service sports ground in Boroughbridge Road.

Said Stroughair: “He looked after the cricket square and the football pitches before it closed, putting something back into sport.”

The former Canon Lee School pupil was born in Chester-le-Street but lived in the Shipton area when his family moved to York. Gill, whose funeral was held at York Crematorium yesterday, leaves wife Barbara and daughter Sharon.