BILL Martin, one of the biggest, best and toughest forwards in the history of Workington Town, has died at the age of 74.

He died in the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, on May 30.

Mr Martin, known to his team-mates as Dickie, joined Workington Town from Marsh Hornets as a winger in 1957-58, but he made his name at blind-side prop.

He never failed to thrill with his storming breaks and rugged tackling.

His highest accolade was his solitary test cap for Great Britain at Perpignan in 1961, which came after a devastating performance in the Town pack at Castleford.

The other GB prop who squared up to the French in a blood and thunder match was another Workington-born player, Hull’s Bill Drake.

Though he was built more like a steam-roller than a statue, Mr Martin’s speed over the short break was devastating, and he possessed a unique ability to entertain the crowds whether it be with football, pranks or fisticuffs.

He excelled at all three, and was regarded as an enforcer who looked after his team-mates and was known to take instructions from the crowd as to which members of the opposition needed a sort-out.

He played in some fearsome packs. Probably the best included Danny Gardiner, Malcolm Moss, Matt McLeod, Brian Edgar and Frank Foster, but his career did not coincide with the club’s best years.

He never played at Wembley and his only winner’s medal was when Town beat Widnes 10-0 in the replayed Western Division Championship final at Wigan in 1962-63.

He played his last match for Town in August 1968, and two months later he made his debut for Whitehaven for whom he played 38 games before hanging up his boots in October, 1970.

Team-mate and friend, stand off Harry Archer - one of six Workington Town men to make the 1958 GB tour to Australasia - said: “I never like making comparisons between players or teams but you would have to put Dickie Martin in the top two or three among number 10s at Workington.

“He was a fearless type of player, fast for a prop forward, but above all he was an entertainer who just loved to play up to the crowd - and who never really took the game seriously.

“The crowd loved him, especially when he was on the burst with the ball.

“He took the game like life, just as it came, and there is no doubt that if he had applied himself more he would have won more than that one test cap against the French.

“I am sorry to hear of his death because he was a social man and a good team-mate.”

Mr Martin made 276 appearances for Town and scored 12 tries - five of them in the 1962-3 season.

He also played 11 times for Cumberland between 1961 and 1967 and one of his county appearances was alongside his younger brother Dennis, in an 18-14 victory over Lancashire at Warrington.

Mr Martin was a pipe-fitter with British Steel in Workington for many years, but after his playing days were over he and his first wife Doreen were employed by Workington Town as popular stewards of the Derwent Park Social Club.

He also worked as a doorman at the old Princess Street dance hall.

He later moved to Allonby to set up home with his second wife, Jo, and took part in many New Year’s Day charity swims there.

Mr Martin’s funeral service took place at Christ Church, Allonby, on Tuesday, followed by burial in the churchyard.

He is survived by his wife, five daughters - Denise, Jane, Karen and Michelle by his marriage to Doreen and Caroline by his second marriage - and eight grandchildren.