Former City striker Derek Stokes has died at the age of 82.

Stokes played 141 games for the club in two spells in the 1950s and 60s, scoring 66 goals.

In a message on Twitter, the club said: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of former Bantam Derek Stokes. Rest in peace, Derek.”

Son Gary Stokes had announced his death on social media.

He wrote: "It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we have to make this announcement.

"His football achievements are common knowledge. He started his career at Bolton Wanderers before going on to make 279 football league appearances for Bradford City and Huddersfield Town, scoring 120 league goals.

"He also made four appearances for England under-23s, scoring two goals. He then went on to play for Dundalk in Ireland, scoring 29 goals in 64 games."

Stokes, from Snydale just outside Pontefract, joined City from the West Yorkshire League side as an amateur in May 1956.

He made his debut 16 months later in a 2-2 draw at Crewe – scoring both goals on his 18th birthday.

Between Boxing Day 1959 and February 6, 1960, Stokes scored against Grimsby home and away, Swindon, Everton, Chesterfield, Newport, Bournemouth and Accrington.

He rattled off 14 goals in eight games, including two hat-tricks. 

Stokes finished that season on 35 in a City team that finished sixth from bottom of the Third Division. He had also missed the final nine games with an ankle injury.

In an interview with the T&A in 2013, Stokes said: “I was an outside left when I started, a left winger as they call it now, and scored a few goals from out there. But not as many as when I moved into the middle.”

He was sold for £22,500 to Huddersfield that June and went on to win England under-23 honours while with the Terriers, where he top-scored for four successive seasons.

A second spell with City in 1966 was not so successful but a final tally of 66 league and cup goals puts him among the list of leading scorers at the club.