BRADFORD has lost one of its longest serving sportsmen with the death of Granville Cook at the age of 93.

Affectionately known as Cookie or 'Mr Dudley Hill Athletic', Granville, who survived the Second World War despite being a gunner protecting North Atlantic convoys, was involved in local football for over 70 years.

He first came to prominence when, at the age of 11 in 1935, he became the youngest player to represent Tong Street-based Highfield Secondary School in the Bradford Schools' Senior final.

Two years later, he was a member of his school’s cricket team that won the Bradford Schools' final at Bowling Old Lane.

Cookie's talent also crossed over into rugby league when, as a member of Dudley Hill, they picked up the 1939 Bradford & District Rugby League Cup by beating Bradford Northern Reserves 13-3 at Odsal Stadium.

After leaving school at 14, Granville spent most of his working life at Multiple Fabrics of Dudley Hill but still found time for his beloved football, playing for Sunfield Rovers in the Bradford Red Triangle League and then Bradford Rovers, who were one of the top sides in the West Riding County Amateur League.

In 1942, he signed for Bradford Park Avenue, playing in only two pre-season games – called representative matches in those days – before receiving his call-up papers to join the Royal Navy.

After his stint in the North Atlantic, he went to Canada and was on ships going down the Pacific through the Panama Canal and across the South Atlantic, calling at many of the African ports on the Atlantic coast and arranging football matches against both local sides and any other ships that were in port.

Towards the end of the war, he took leave to marry his girlfriend Florence and, after the war, was offered a promotion to petty officer, which meant he would have had to stay in the Royal Navy, but he declined the promotion to go home and start his life with Florence.

After playing for local teams, he was persuaded by his son Colin in 1966 to form his own team.

Dudley Hill Athletic started in Division Four of the Bradford Red Triangle League, but, after successive promotions, they topped the Premier Division before in 1972 they achieved Granville's goal and were accepted into the West Riding County Amateur League.

During the next 35 years, Dudley Hill Athletic, under Granville’s stewardship as secretary, manager and groundsman, and other roles besides, they achieved numerous successes.

Granville, who lost his wife in 2009 after 63 years of marriage, leaves a daughter Janet and son Colin, as well as three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

His funeral will be at Scholemoor Crematorium on Tuesday, August 2 (11.30am).