FORMER York Rugby League Club player and Southlands ARLC stalwart Alan Smith has died, aged 84.

It is claimed that Smith, who lived in South Bank, was the youngest-ever player to turn out for York, having signed as a 15-year-old schoolboy. That could have been for the ‘A’ team, in a friendly, or as a trialist.

Official records, though, say he played 19 times for the club’s first team, scoring two tries, after making his debut, aged 22, in October 1949.

A winger, he was the youngest of three brothers to play for their home-town team, the others being Ken and George, and he was a member of the ex-players’ association.

He also had spells on the books at Hull KR – apparently getting knocked out when he donned the Rovers shirt for the first time – and Bramley, although it has not been possible to confirm if he turned out for their first teams.

Smith was involved with the old Southlands amateur club for more than 40 years, as a coach, manager and secretary.

Among the players he brought through that club was the late former York, Castleford and Great Britain winger St John Ellis, who also had success as coach of Doncaster.

Others included former Featherstone star Steve Quinn, ex-Castleford player Peter Cookland and former York players Steve Wheatley and Gary Johnson.

Former Southlands captain Garry Hill, who played for the club for 20 years, paid a lavish tribute to Smith.

“Alan was a smashing guy,” he said. “He could communicate with people of any age group or gender.

“When you joined Southlands, he made you feel like he was your best friend from day one. He made you feel welcome.

“Everybody you speak to says that and he was well known in rugby league circles in the city.”

Smith, who worked as chief clerk of the parcels office at York railway station for many years, was a long-time member of St Clement’s Working Men’s Club in South Bank, which hosts Southlands ARLC reunions every year.

He was also a member of York Races and Yorkshire CCC and a player for York Railway Institute Bowls Club.

Smith died on Saturday after a battle with cancer, leaving behind daughter Ann and a host of friends.

His funeral will be on June 23 at York Crematorium, at 10.20am, and all friends are welcome.