FORMER Town player Stewart Holden has died after a short illness, aged 61.
The Clayton West-born right-half spent five years on Town's professional staff from 1959-64.
Signed by Bill Shankly, he scored on his debut against Plymouth in September 1960.
That was the first of 30 League and Cup appearances (he scored twice) before a move to Oldham Athletic in 1964.
He finished his career at Rochdale, making more than 100 appearances in all and scoring seven times.
He worked for ATS Tyres for 30 years and, living in Royton, he was manager of their Oldham branch.
