FORMER Roose RL and Post Office table tennis player Bob McGerty has died aged 80, writes PADDY McATEER .

Bob was one of the top hookers in his day and was a member of the Roose team that went through to the first round of the RL Challenge Cup in 1962, when they were beaten 11-0 by Liverpool Stanley at Widnes.

Bob and Ron Clements, a close friend of his for more than 60 years, both played for Walney after completing National Service in the army, where Bob was a bombardier.

However, he found it difficult to force his way into the Cents hooking role, which was occupied by Teddy Blake, and left to join Roose.

Clements said: “Bob and myself have been best mates for well over 60 years. We played for a junior club at Roose when we were about 15.

“I went along to watch Bob and they were a man short, so I thought I would give it a go and enjoyed it. Then we went into the army and when we came out I got him to come to Walney. But Teddy Blake was the number one man at hooker and was the Barrow Inter-town number nine.

“Bob played at Roose for two or three years and eventually got picked for the Inter-town side. He was a good hooker.

“I remember quite well the season they got through to play Liverpool. They beat Walney in a qualifying round and I laugh about it now, but Bob scored a try managing to get the ball between my legs on the floor.

“We both worked at the Post Office and we entered a team in the Brucciani Sevens at Craven Park. We were not that good and we had soccer player Barry Lowes playing on the wing – he was so fast, and Barrow wanted to sigh him, but he went to Holker Street.

“We also played soccer together in the Thursday League for the shop assistants. It was an afternoon league for those properties on half-day closing. Bob and myself also played for several years for the Post Office at table tennis.

“He was a good player and he also coached my grandchildren.”

Former Roose team-mate John Winward added of Bob: “He was a good hooker. He was very keen and was very supportive with those around him. He would do anything for anyone – he was a great bloke and good company.”