A FORMER Wire great who took a bow at Warrington Wolves' centenary match on Sunday has died.

Ex-Warrington captain and golfing expert Bill Shankland, described as 'A wonderful man who had a wonderful career', died on Tuesday aged 91.

Shankland received a standing ovation from nearly 5,000 Warrington supporters when, with the aid of his walking stick, he led a parade of past greats on to the Wilderspool pitch as part of the centenary celebrations prior to the Wolves' home game against Huddersfield Giants.

He was believed to be the oldest former Wire player alive when Sunday's event took place.

Afterwards Shankland, who lived in Poole, Dorset, said: "It was a lovely feeling to walk on to the pitch and hear all those supporters cheer. It is a day I will never forget."

The next day Shankland, who had a pacemaker, suffered a heart attack as he left the Forte Posthouse Hotel at Runcorn. He died in Halton General Hospital on Tuesday at around 8.15pm.

The funeral will take place at the Church of Transfiguration, Cansford Cliffs, Poole, at noon on Wednesday, followed by a memorial at Parkstone Golf Club.

Although Australian Shankland made a name for himself in this country in Rugby League, he was not a rugby star - he was a sports star.

Shankland represented his country at boxing, swimming and Rugby Union before touring Great Britain with the Australia Rugby League team in 1929.

He made a lasting impression with Warrington supporters. For on his return to the town in 1931, after being signed by Wire, 2,000 people were waiting to greet Shankland, his wife Daphne and another Australian player called Nelson Hardy at Bank Quay station.

Respected Warrington supporter and club historian Ernie Day remembers the impact Shankland had on the club as he paid tribute to the man this week.

He said: "He gave Warrington a lift in the 1930s like Les Boyd did for the club in the 1980s.

"His presence on the field was similar to Les Boyd's. His personality on the field was strong and it spread over to the terraces.

"Warrington had not been having much success but in Bill's time there were two Wembley finals and two Championship finals.

"After he left the club I kept in touch with Bill. I went down to Poole to see him twice and sent him an album of old photographs and newspaper cuttings I had collected of him for his 90th birthday.

"He was a wonderful man who had a wonderful career. He can now be united with his wife Daphne again. He was married to her for 67 years until her death and he idolised her."

Shankland, who was the first Australian to skipper a Challenge Cup final team at Wembley, played 231 games for Warrington between 1931 and 1938 and scored 74 tries and 70 goals.

From Rugby League Shankland turned to golf. He became professional to Haydock Golf Club and visited their headquarters on Sunday morning prior to the centenary match at Wilderspool.

Shankland went on to play in every British Golf Open between 1937 and 1955. He came second once and tied in third twice.

From golfing exhibitions Bill raised almost a million pounds for charity and only gave up the game 18 months ago after damaging his shoulders in a fall.

He has three sons, two of whom are golf professionals who own golf courses in America and they will be returning to Britain shortly for the funeral.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.