Former Wolves player and manager Graham Hawkins

Former Wolves player and manager Graham Hawkins has died at the age of 70.

He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2009 and fought the disease tirelessly whilst raising money for fellow cancer patients at Shrewsbury’s Royal Hospital.

He was a boyhood fan of Wolves and is one of the few people in football to play, manage and scout for his local club. He made 35 first team appearances for Wolves, helping them win promotion to the top flight in 1967, before leading them to promotion as manager in 82/83.

A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, and helped the club out of the Second Division in 1966-67. He moved on to Preston North End in December 1967.

In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain as they won the Third Division title in 1970-71.

He signed with Blackburn Rovers in 1974, playing over 100 games in a four-year spell, helping the club to the Third Division title in 1974-75.

Mr Hawkins was sold to Port Vale in January 1978, where he first entered into coaching, before his departure from there in late 1979.

He made a total of 502 league and cup appearances in the Football League.

Serving as Shrewsbury Town’s assistant manager, he was given the top job at Wolves in 1982. He led the club to promotion out of the Second Division in 1982-83, before he lost his position in April 1984. Following this he coached in Saudi Arabia and then was made head of player development at the Football League.

Managing director of Wolves Laurie Dalrymple said: “Graham made a huge contribution not only to Wolves but to football in general during his career.”

Mr Hawkins was a fundraiser.