Sid Blackhall, a former Bradford (Park Avenue) centre-forward, has died aged 78.

Born up in the North-East in Ashington just months after the end of World War II, he was recommended to Bradford player-manager Jimmy Scoular, who captained Newcastle United to victory in the 1955 FA Cup final, in 1961 by the father of Avenue goalkeeper Ronnie Routledge.

At the age of 16, Blackhall, who had been watched by Burnley and Manchester United, was taken on to the Avenue ground staff as an apprentice.

The following year, he signed professional forms shortly after his 17th birthday.

His only Football League appearance came in September 1963, a Division Four game at Newport County, when he deputised for the injured Jim Fryatt.

In that same season, Fryatt scored the fastest-ever Football League goal, after four seconds against Tranmere Rovers, and with he and future England international Kevin Hector playing up front for Avenue at the time, it was always going to be hard for Blackhall to make his breakthrough.

The Ashington native went on to appear for the first team on another four occasions in minor competitions, prior to receiving a free transfer away from the club in May 1965.

He later played for hometown club Ashington in the North Regional League before finally settling in Bradford.