Brought up at the Dewsbury club near his Mirfield home where his late father Albert was the club professional, John, who was 65, made 139 appearances for Yorkshire. Only six players played more matches for the county.

Along with Selby's Les Walker, he was perhaps the best player never to win the county championship.

A strong player, particuarly with his irons, he twice reached the final, losing to Garforth's Mike Holiday at Alwoodley in 1972 then to Gordon J Brand at Ganton four years later.

He achieved a national victory in an event organised by the Daily Mirror.

He spent most of his playing career as a member at Halifax (Ogden), where he served as captain. He won the Halifax-Huddersfield Union championship four times and was Union president in 1992.

A biochemist, he worked in the brewing industry with Tetley's for many years then became head brewer at a brewery at Snaith.

****

In the Roses clash in the Northern Counties League, Yorkshire lost out to Lancashire in the Northern Counties Boys qualifying at Arcot Hall, Northumberland.

Red Rose rivals Lancashire will represent the North in the English Boys County championship at Royal North Devon on September 1-3.

Yorkshire's six-man team, including county champion Richard Law held a slender lead at the halfway stage of the event in which the best five scores counted.

But in the afternoon Lancashire pulled clear as Yorkshire, also overtaken by Cheshire, had to settle for third spot.

RESULT: 722 – Lancashire; 739 – Cheshire; 741 – Yorkshire: L O'Neil (Bingley St Ives) 72 77, S Campbell (Hallowes) 74 77, L Cooper (Headingley) 76 75, L Bramall (Hillsborough) 74 76, D Gavins (Wheatley) 72 70, R Law (Low Laithes) 74 81; 752 – Northumberland; 754 – Durham; 769 – Cumbria; 834 – Isle of Man.

Other results

Leeds Seniors Championship (Cobble Hall): 73 – P Taylor (Horsforth). 74 – C Jones (Sand Moor). Stableford: 39pts – T Broadbent (Scarcroft).

Leeds Scratch League: Div 1 – Pontefract 5, Garforth 1; Wakefield 4, Moortown 2; Howley Hall 3, Wike Ridge 3. Div 2 – Leeds 0, Moor Allerton 6; Selby 4, Horsforth 2; Cookridge Hall 4, Temple Newsam 2. Div 3 – Sand Moor 6, Headingley 0; Wetherby 4, Mid Yorkshire 2; Low Laithes 6, Woolley Park 0; Sand Moor 4, Mid Yorkshire 2. Div 4 – Barnsley 3, Gotts Park 3; Roundhay 6, City of Wakefield 0; Waterton Park 6, Middleton Park 0.

Leeds Net League: Div A –Howley Hall 4, Barnsley 2; Sand Moor 2, Horsforth 4; Garforth 4, Temple Newsam 2; Sand Moor 5, Mid Yorkshire 1; Garforth 4, Barnsley 2. Div B – Wakefield 5, Scarcroft 1; Wetherby 0, Southg Leeds 6; Selby 6, Woolley Park 0. Div C – City of Wakefield 22,Low Laithes 4; Normanton 6, Headingley 0; Wike Ridge 0, Moor Allerton 6.