Veteran Keighley sportsman Allan Betts - pictured right in his youth - died suddenly at the weekend aged 78.

Mr Betts, of Coronation Way, Keigh-ley, was found dead at his home on Sunday after suffering a heart-attack. Only two days earlier he had taken his grand-daughter out for a meal.

He was born in 1919 and captained Keighley Boys' soccer team when he was just 12 years old.

He also played with Addingham and Keighley Town, producing an incredible burst of speed having been a top sprinter at athletics.

During the 1930s and 1940s he was a sporting all-rounder, playing soccer with a number of local teams. He played centre with the town's professional rugby league club during the 1938/39 season. At a time when the League and Rugby Union codes were far apart he also played in a union team which included the legendary Bruce Lockheart.

His sporting career was interrupted by World War Two when he served with the Cheshire Regiment, fighting through North Africa and into Italy. When the war ended he captained his regiment in the Services Cup which was held in what was to become the Olympic Stadium in Rome, leading his team to cup glory.

Tribute was paid to Mr Betts this week by former team mate Tom Fos-ter. He said: "I was very shocked. On behalf of his former team mates at Worth Village and workmates at Dentons, Atkinsons and NSF I would like to say 'Goodbye Bumble', we all thought a lot of you and adm-ired you on the football and rugby fields."

A funeral service is to be held today followed by cremation.

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