Wolves legend Roy Swinbourne dies aged 86

The striker, whose goals fired the club to their first title back in the 1953-54 season and provided the catalyst for the famous victory over Budapest Honved FC in 1954, passed away at a nursing home in Kidderminster at 5am following a long battle with vascular dementia.

Mr Swinbourne made 230 appearances for Wolves, scoring 114 goals between 1945 and 1957.

Former players and family have paid tribute to the Yorkshire born footballer, who retired following a knee injury in 1957, before going on to work for Goodyear and start his own Midlands based tyre business.

His wife of 62 years, Betty Swinbourne, 83, said: "He was the most kind man you could ever think of.

"He loved his family and friends, loved people and was wonderful with children.

"He had a smile that made everybody love him back and he was such a warm soul.

"Everything he turned his hand to in life he was a success at, whether that was football, work or his family."

Wolves hero Ron Flowers, who played with Swinbourne, said: "Roy grew up just a village down from me and we both came through the Wath Wanderers set-up.

"I had heard a lot about him before I even moved to Wolverhampton, his brother would always be talking about him and the Wolves.

"He was a true gentleman, a perfect bloke and a real good influence to people around him.

"On the pitch, he was just the kind of player you wanted on your team, especially away from home when it was time to separate the men from the boys."