A FUNERAL service was to take place today at the Crematorium of Ken Wilson a former Listers, Barrow RL and Barrow Island player.

Ken passed away last week at the age of 73 at Risedale/St Luke's Nursing home.

His playing career started with the now defunct, but fledgling Listers club from where he signed for Barrow in August 1972 after trials with the club’s “A” team.

Although small in stature, Ken was a flying machine, a player who could catch pigeons, he had a tremendous amount of pace.

He made a piece of local history by being the first ever Listers player to turn professional.

He played the whole of the 1972/73 season in the “A” team before making his Senior debut against Huddersfield at home on August 17, in the 1973/74 season, a game which Barrow won 26-6.

The wing berths saw good wingers like Jim McPoland, Phil Clegg, Kevin O’Brien and Glyn Davies, so Ken had to be on his game to keep a first team shirt.

He made just 27 appearances in two seasons registering five tries, but made many others for his team mates, with his final game being at home to Hull KR on March 28, 1975.

Ken returned to the amateur game with Barrow Island where he terrorised local wingers with his devastating pace and professional knowledge.

He played into the late 1980s before hanging up his boots.

While at Barrow he turned his attention to the newly created Furness Coaching Association, a body that brought young players into rugby league.

He was a founder member of the association along with Harry Dawson, Terry Barker, Russ Walker and several others.

Ken, who also played football for Park Albion went to Abbotsmead and Alfred Barrow schools before moving into his first job at the Lakeland Laundry as a van driver then Listers, VSEL (BAE) and Strand Engineering.

While at Listers, he decided to play for their rugby team, and at Barrow he was part of the team that won the Lancashire County Shield.

A week before his daughter Vicky was born, while playing for Barrow Island he was taken to hospital letting wife Marie know he had concussion.

However, the next day he was discharged with a dislocated neck.

Ken also won the round trip road race from Barrow to Ulverston.

Down the line, granddaughter Rebecca arrived and replaced Vicky as his favourite girl.

In 2020 Ken's health deteriorated and in 2021 he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.

Earlier this year Ken and Marie celebrated their golden wedding.