AMATEUR rugby league players rallied together at the weekend to support a club stalwart who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Eric Smith, 60, chairman of the Haydock amateur club he founded 36 years ago, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Following the news, the club got together with Thatto Heath and quickly arranged a ‘masters’ game featuring past players from both clubs.

In front of a healthy crowd the game, which included players aged in their thirties and sixties, offered a morale boost to Eric who was present on the day.

Eric, who has been involved with the Yickers since their inception and won the Unsung Sports Hero prize at the BBC NorthWest sports awards in 2005, is set to begin chemotherapy treatment.

His extra voluntary duties at the club have included kitman, first aider, match day programme editor and marketing manager.

“Eric was made up to see so many past players and old friends down at the club,” said Haydock committee member John Bradbury.

“He was grateful to Thatto Heath for arranging the game at short notice. It was a really good day and good to see everybody together and that’s the reason for doing it.

“It was nice seeing how many who came and sent him best wishes and trying to help him. It was a good competitive game as well, a good old Haydock and Thatto Heath derby.”

The club also put some of its proceeds from its long-time arranged sportsman's dinner at the weekend to Eric’s fund, which featured compere Neil Holding, Gary Connolly, Lee Briers and Tommy Martyn.

“The dinner went well and Eric was there for a couple of hours with lots of old friends there.

“We are going to be doing future things for him. This was at short notice and now we will look at something in another few weeks.

To donate to Eric’s fund, visit the Haydock ARLFC Twitter and Facebook pages.