BRIAN Noble has made a heartfelt tribute to fellow Bradford legend and former teammate Jeff Grayshon MBE who recently passed away at the age of 72.

It is understood the ex-Northern captain had been diagnosed with Covid-19 before his death on Sunday.

Grayshon had a storied career lasting a quarter of a century at the highest level, amassing 776 appearances, ranking him fourth on the all-time list, playing for the likes of Bradford Northern, Leeds and Dewsbury until he was 45.

He and Noble began at Odsal in the same year (1979), and the rest, as they say, is history.

Speaking about when he first heard the sad news, the former Bulls coach said: "I was really shocked and saddened for his wife and son Paul.

"Then I started to think about the fun times that we had together. The shock was replaced by reflection for the great man and player he was."

In the first three years the pair spent together, Northern won back-to-back Division One titles and a Regal Trophy.

Noble added: "I will always treasure the time I had with him at Bradford.

"When I came to make my debut as an 18-year-old he was part of my career for the next four-five years. I had some great people around me then and he was one of them.

"He was good for a changing room. Decisive and incisive in what he said at half time or during the game, always giving people tips on what to do."

On that spell between 1979 and 1981, where Peter Fox's men picked up their first league honours, Noble said: "It was only replicated when we were winning all the trophies with the Bulls from 1997-2005.

"It was a part-time sport back then, so everybody had to go to work during the day. Training on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday was a social event.

"A lot of touch and pass and the coaches would stick on a few moves that they thought would get you over the line.

"It was the players who ran the show and you needed great leaders, we had several at Bradford.

"It was good times, when you went into the city you got a few beers for free!"

As for how the former Great Britain and England international would get on in today's game, Noble insisted: "I think it is self-explanatory, he would kill it.

"He was so valuable to all the clubs he played for. He had great skills for a big man, he could play, offload and pass.

"He started out as a full back at Dewsbury (where he was part of the side to shock favourites Leeds in the 1973 Championship final) and went through all the positions.

"Back row when he started at Bradford then had a long career in the front row.

"He was hard to stop, and he could turn his big backside into the opposition and find an offload.

"He was a big advocate of running into spaces, and not people. If you took time out to listen to Jeff, your game improved for sure."