WALTER Joyce, former youth development officer at Bury Football Club, died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 62 after a short illness.

A hard-tackling full-back in his playing days with Burnley and Blackburn in the '50s and early '60s, he gained coaching experience with his home town club, Oldham Athletic, and had a spell in management at Rochdale before joining Bolton Wanderers in 1977 on Ian Greaves' coaching staff.

He served under five Bolton managers and as an assistant to John McGovern and Charlie Wright before leaving Burnden Park in December 1985 when Wright was sacked.

Highly-respected for his youth team work, he held key posts at Preston and with the Shakers before moving to Manchester United, where he was recruitment officer at the Old Trafford Academy.

His son Warren now manages Hull City while his other son Wayne works at Gigg Lane on the youth development side.

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