THE funeral of former Warrington Wolves second rower Wayne Gaskell has been arranged.

Mourners will pay their respects at Warrington Crematorium on Friday, March 9, at 3pm.

Gaskell, who joined The Wire from Woolston Rovers and was a member of the all conquering 1973/74 squad, died from a heart attack in the cabin of a train engine while at work last Friday.

He made 32 appearances for Warrington's first team between 1973 and 1975.

His 17 appearances in that glorious 73/74 campaign under Alex Murphy included a substitute appearance in the Club Championship Final when The Wire edged out St Helens 13-12 at Swinton.

Gaskell had been in the successful Challenge Cup Final squad the week before in a memorable season of four trophy successes.

He made his debut in primrose and blue on the same day as another signing from Woolston, Roy Pickersgill.

After that first showing at Leigh on 23 April 23, 1973, helping The Wire to finish top of the table, he featured in two top 16 play-off matches.

There were a dozen more appearances from him in 1974/75, one of the highlights being a try scorer in Warrington’s 32-0 victory over Leigh in the BBC2 Floodlight Trophy semi-final.

A week later he played in the drawn final against Salford at The Willows, when neither side could manage a score.

Gaskell's final first-team appearance was as a substitute on February 16, 1975, against Wakefield Trinity at Wilderspool.

He gave up the sport to concentrate on his career as a train driver, a passion that he fulfilled for more than 40 years.

Warrington Wolves officials have sent their condolences to his family.