City mourns Trevor Foster

The 90-year-old was surrounded by his family when he died on Saturday at Bradford Royal Infirmary following a heart attack.

The Welsh-born forward was a huge figure in the sport and enjoyed a distinguished playing career for Bradford Northern and Great Britain.

He served the club for 60 years holding positions of coach, director and chairman.

He was instrumental in helping to save Bradford Northern in 1963 when it folded.

And he performed his last duty as timekeeper at Bradford Bull's match against St Helens last Monday.

Mr Foster's charity fundraising efforts were also recognised in 2001 when he was awarded the MBE for his services to the community.

He raised thousands for good causes through speaking engagements and dinners.

Charities he helped included the Catholic Housing Association, Bradford Cancer Support Centre, Friends of Bradford Royal Infirmary, the Telegraph & Argus-backed Millennium Scanner Appeal and the Bradford Police Club.

He fell ill and complained of chest pains on Wednesday afternoon when he arrived at the hospital with the intention of visiting his close friend and colleague Charles Ebbage who had undergone major surgery.

Mr Ebbage, 75, of Low Moor, who worked with Mr Foster for more than 30 years at Odsal, said: "He was a very truthful man and he had plenty of integrity.

"I will miss him enormously. His enthusiasm for everything was so immense. It is a great loss."

Mr Foster's son Simon, 55, who regularly attended Bulls games with his father, said his death would bring "great sadness" to the people of Bradford, his family and everyone involved with Rugby League.

"His family are very proud of his achievements in life, his great work for the community and the many charities, particularly his long involvement with the Bradford Police Club for young people," he said.

"My father didn't know this but he was going to be awarded the Platinum Medal next week for his 40 years' voluntary service with young people in Bradford."

The National Association of Young People Awards recognise volunteers' commitment and Mr Foster had already received the Gold Award for 30 years' service.

Simon Foster, a marketing, business and finance lecturer at East Riding College, in Beverley, near Hull, said he was privileged to accompany his father to many memorable sporting occasions.

"One poignant memory was our trip to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when he proudly led out his beloved Bradford Bulls in the 2003 Challenge Cup final at the invitation of club chairman Chris Caisley," he said.

"He was revered by the supporters of Bradford Northern and Bradford Bulls and he always had a great relationship with the fans."

He said his father's biography, which was launched at Odsal last week, was a "lasting legacy" of his remarkable life.

Mr Foster also leaves two daughters, Sara and Bridget, and nine grandchildren. His daughter Jane died of cancer in 1992 and this inspired him to raise funds for cancer charities.

His funeral will be at St Cuthbert's RC Church, Heaton, at 1pm on Friday.

His family has requested donations in lieu of flowers to the Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice, off Leeds Road, or the Friends of Bradford Royal Infirmary.

A devout Catholic, Mr Foster attended mass every Sunday at St Cuthbert's and was also involved with counselling and helping the needy through the church.

In 2002 he was given the Papal Medal from the Vatican in Rome in recognition of his work in the church.

Parish priest Father Lawrence Lister said: "He was a member of St Cuthbert's for many, many years and I would always call him the gentle giant with the big heart.

"He was very proud of his Welsh roots and his heritage and he was very much a part of the family at Bradford Bulls. He will be missed by many, many people."

Mr Foster was presented with the inaugural Lord Mayor of Bradford's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for an outstanding 60 years' service to the city by then Lord Mayor, Councillor Tony Miller.

Coun Miller said: "This is the passing of a great statesman, a great sportsman and a great and extremely generous friend."

Also in 1999, Mr Foster scooped a prize in the T&A's Bradford's Best Millennium Community Awards for the Best Community Sports contribution.

Mr Foster gave his £600 prize money to Temple Bank School for the Partially Sighted.

Mr Foster also fought for a major redevelopment of Odsal Stadium.

Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley said he hoped Mr Foster's dreams for the ground would now become a reality.

"He was a gentleman and I never heard anyone say a bad word about him," he said.

"He had so many friends and admirers, not just in Bradford but across the whole country, and he certainly was a legend throughout the city of Bradford.

"He served the club terrifically well and he gave us more than 60 years which is a major achievement in itself."

Last week the T&A reported how Mr Foster was last Wednesday at his beloved Odsal, which he dubbed his second home, to launch his biography at a huge event attended by many representatives from the world of Rugby League, his children and grandchildren.

When he hung up his boots after 433 appearances for Bradford Northern and three Great Britain caps, Mr Foster worked for Bradford Council as an education welfare officer.