A LOCAL footballing hero, who appeared in two Wembley cup finals in his younger days, died playing the game he loved.

Former Coventry City player Ivan Crossley, aged 48, collapsed while playing five-a-side football with his son Paul at the JJB Indoor Sports complex at Trafford on Monday (June 18).

Mr Crossley, of Jesmond Drive, Bury, was pronounced dead on arrival at Trafford General Hospital. The cause of his death is being investigated.

His brother Stuart said: "Ivan lived and breathed football. He died the way he would have wanted, with his football boots on, playing the game he loved."

Friends at Mr Crossley's current club, Elton Fold FC, where he was a coach, were stunned by his death.

Team manager Mr Guy Mallinson, said: "I'm still in a state of shock at the moment." Paying tribute, he said: "Ivan took over as club trainer at the start of the 1994-95 season and brought some very impressive and new ideas to the training ground as well as infectious enthusiasm.

"Just ask any of the Fold lads how hard it was to get the ball off him, he wanted it all the time. He played a large part in our progression into the Manchester League Premier Division and also the winning of the Adidas Lancashire Shield."

Mr Mallinson added: "He was respected tremendously by all the players and management and will be very sorely missed, most obviously by his family, but also by everyone at the Fold."

Ivan, who attended St. Gabriel's RC High school, was spotted by a Coventry City scout in 1966 along with three other local lads. He signed for the club but as a youngster, was restricted in terms of first team opportunities because, as he put it, "they were always struggling then".

He played in three FA Youth Cup finals against Spurs and Burnley, playing against Graeme Souness on two occasions. He left Coventry in 1971 and had one season with Bangor City before moving to non-league giants Altrincham where he stayed until 1983, appearing in two FA Trophy finals at Wembley, as a winner in 1976 and a runner-up in 1982.

He also played in some memorable FA Cup ties against the likes of Spurs and Everton, drawing the away games before losing the replays at Maine Road and Old Trafford.

He then joined Elton Fold in their first season in the Bolton Combination, 1983-84, but work committments with the RAC prevented him from playing on Saturdays after that season. However, he continued as a player and then manager of the club's Sunday team, scoring the only goal of the 1986-87 Apollo Cup final at Bury's Gigg Lane.

His playing days were ended by a serious injury, puncturing a lung during a game of football.

Mr Crossley is survived by parents, Tom and May, his wife Monica, children Paul and Lisa, and brother Stuart. His funeral will take place on Tuesday (June 26) at 10am at Guardian Angels RC Church followed by committal at Overdale Crematorium, Bolton.