A sportsman who played six-a-side football until he was almost 90 has died just days after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Bill Smith, also an accomplished track cyclist affectionately known as 'Billy Lightning', died following a fall last week.

(Image: MIKE AMOS)

Born in Darlington and an ardent Newcastle United fan, Bill had been a cyclist with Darlington-based Spartan Wheelers.

“I’m sure a lot of people just came to see the blood, there were some pretty spectacular pile-ups,” he once said.

Bill lived in North Cowton – between Darlington and Northallerton – for many years. More recently he was living in care in Scorton, but still enjoyed a weekly pint or two at the Beeswing in East Cowton.

After retiring as chief draughtsman with Northern Gas, he spent Monday mornings playing football at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington, often against men less than half his age. He continued to play six-a-side football until he was aged nearly 90.

“Bill strokes a ball like most octogenarians would stroke a docile cat, affectionately and with evident satisfaction,” The Northern Echo's Backtrack column observed on his 80th birthday.

Bill Smith playing football at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, when aged 85Bill Smith playing football at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, when aged 85 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Among his 100th birthday presents was a visit with his daughter, June Bindoff, to watch Newcastle United play Brighton in the last game of the season against Brighton at St James’ Park - the ground around which he raced as a cyclist with Spartan Wheelers in 1949.

Maurice Bartle, Bill's friend for 70 years, recalled their first meeting at the Spartan Wheelers racing club in the 1940s.

He said: "He was eight years older than me and had established a reputation as an accomplished track cyclist.

"This is where he got the epithet 'Billy Lightning' because he was so quick on the track. I suppose he became somewhat of a mentor to me.”

Years later, Maurice restored the track bike Bill had first ridden in 1944, which had been sat in an outhouse for more than 40 years. It now has pride of place in his collection of more than 120 bikes.

Maurice, now aged 92, said: "He was just a really nice, easy going bloke."