FORMER York RL stalwart John Elmer as well as ex-coach Maurice Bamford, the former Leeds, Wigan and Great Britain boss, have passed away.

Elmer played 65 games for York's first team between 1961 and 1971.

He died peacefully in York Hospital, aged 77, leaving behind partner Sue.

His funeral will be held at York Crematorium on Thursday, May 30, at 11.40am. No flowers are requested but donations may be given in memory of him to the British Heart Foundation.

Leeds-born Bamford has died at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer.

A player with Dewsbury, having first signed pro forms with Hull, he went on to coach GB for three years between 1984 and 1987 and had two spells in charge of Leeds during the 1980s. He also held coaching positions at Dewsbury, Bramley, Huddersfield, Wigan, Keighley, Workington, Prescot Panthers, Lancashire Lynx, Bradford and Halifax.

His role at York amounted to voluntarily helping out the then caretaker boss John Strange for a short while in 1999.

After retiring from coaching he began a new career as an author and rugby league match reporter.