TRIBUTES have been paid to a York man who was well-known within the local rugby community.

Phillip Fowler, who is a former York Railway Institute Rugby Union Football Club (RI RUFC) player, has died aged 89.

He was also the club’s former first team captain, treasurer, match secretary, vice president, honorary life member and RI Colts manager.

Phillip, who lived in Woodthorpe, leaves a wife, Ena, and daughters Gillian and Judith.

Michael Harrison, who played rugby with Phillip and knew him for more than 50 years, said: “Phil was a really nice guy.

“He was very passionate about rugby union.

“He was well-known throughout the RI and in the local rugby community.”

At the end of his playing days, Phillip joined the Railway Institute Survivors Club, a group of former players, and eventually became convenor and then president.

Michael added: “Illness forced Phil to miss Survivors Club functions, but he never lost his love of the RI or the game of rugby.

“He kept up to date with match reports that were sent out.”

Another former York RI RUFC player, Bernard Emmel, started writing a history of the club but illness forced him to stop.

Phillip stepped in to carry on the project, working his way through endless files to produce an informative book on the history of the club.

The current Survivor’s Club convenor, is William (Billy) Moore.

Mr Moore said: “Phil will not be a hard act to follow, he will be an impossible act to follow.”

His funeral will take place tomorrow (April 9) at York Crematorium at 2.20pm.