FRED Smith, the former Rylands, Warrington and Salford full back, has died aged 88.

He was a member of the Rylands team who reached the first round of the Challenge Cup in the 1951-52 season and almost embarrassed the professional side Whitehaven.

The Cumbrians won the first leg of the tie 16-0 at the Recreation Ground before Rylands earned a memorable 9-9 draw in the second leg which was played on a Saturday afternoon at Wilderspool.

Also as an amateur, Fred played for Lancashire against Cumberland and Yorkshire and for Great Britain amateurs against France, where he played as a left centre.

Fred had already come to the attention of the Warrington club and played several trial games for the ‘A’ team during the 1950-51 season as a stand-off and centre.

At that time, however, Warrington had just signed a promising full-back in Eric Fraser and so did not offer Fred a professional contract.

But other clubs were interested and, in the summer of 1952, aged 22, he signed for Salford where he enjoyed a successful career.

He made 141 appearances for the Red Devils between 1952 and 1960, mainly as a full-back, scoring 13 tries and kicking 91 goals.

His funeral service was held at Walton Lea Crematorium on Thursday, January 4.