SKILLED sportsman Bob Eunson has lost his battle with cancer.

After a brave fight, he passed away at St Mary's Hospice last week. He was 74.

Walney-born and bred, Bob was educated at Vickerstown, Ocean Road and Holker Street schools.

Playing cricket and football at school, he soon made his mark on the football pitch and was an influential member the Walney Rovers teams in the 1950s and 1960s, alongside close friend Brian Sanders.

Bob moved on to the British Legion Club, where he spent many years as a player and a fundraising member and was delighted when, in 2010, the Legion were crowned champions of the North Western Senior League for the first time since 1978.

Bob told club representative Mark Zuniga at the time: “You have no idea how long I have wanted this trophy back in the Legion.”

In a glowing tribute on social media, Zuniga said: “Bob was a Legion man through and through and it is my aim to put together a charity game in memory of him.”

Bob played in the feared Legion side along with household names, such as Colin Robb, Stuart Taylor and Terry Magee.

He was also a crown green bowler with the King Alfred, where he was for many years the greenkeeper before moving on to pastures new at Vickers Sports Club, now Hawcoat Park. He spent many happy years playing in the Furness, Ulverston and Senior Citizens Leagues.

Bob was also quite handy on the golf course, playing at Furness, where he linked up with Eric Winfield, George Cubiss Snr and Chris Burrell. In his home, Bob proudly had a golf ball mounted for achieving a hole-in-one

He bravely fought his illness and was not going to be housebound.