FORMER York RL hooker Ronnie Wileman has died after a heart attack at the age of 55, just a few years after undergoing a triple heart bypass operation.

Wileman enjoyed six years at Clarence Street, making 89 appearances, including the 1978 Yorkshire Cup final, and scoring 17 tries, before moving to Hull in 1979, in exchange for Alan Maskill plus cash.

Wileman had been transfer listed at his own request for £25,000 – then a club record fee – with Maskill rated at £12,000.

Originally from Grimethorpe, in South Yorkshire, Wileman helped the Black and Whites win the 1979 Floodlit Trophy final, before playing in the 1980 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, infamously breaking Hull KR star Roger Millward’s jaw.

He returned to Wembley two years later to play in the draw against Widnes, but lost his place in the replay win to Tony Duke through injury.

In total he played 89 times for Hull, scoring 23 tries. He also played twice for Yorkshire.

Throughout his time with both York and Hull, Wileman – whose father Danny, also played for York after the war – was a crowd favourite with an eye-catching style and desire to take the team forward. He later coached Grimethorpe amateurs.

York RL statistician and rugby league referee Stuart Evans, a personal friend of Wileman, said: “He was a very good hooker. He was a hard player, not always in the right manner, but I always found him to be a smashing lad.

“I had a great admiration for him not only as a player but also as a person.”