A MAN who helped many top sports stars with their fitness has died.
Colin Kaye, physiotherapist to many sporting legends, has died at the age of 80.
Former England cricket captain Tony Greig, one-time Huddersfield Town and Everton player Dave Hickson and Yorkshire cricket legend Brian Close were just some of those to benefit from Colin’s healing hands during his long and distinguished career.
Mr Kaye started as a masseur and discovered he had a knack of finding and treating troublesome areas.
He believed it was a gift and began treating local footballers in the bedroom of his Huddersfield home in the days when he too was a keen amateur footballer.
Sport became an integral part of his career. He credited his best pal, Olympic runner Derek Ibbotson, with introducing him to the sporting arena and accompanied him to competitions.
During the golden years Mr Kaye regularly ran on to the pitch to treat troubled limbs and stitch the injuries of the professional players of some of the county’s top teams.
He was team physio of Huddersfield Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City over the years.
He also spent eight years tending the players of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Ian Botham and Geoff Boycott are some of the cricketing stars to benefit from Mr Kaye’s hands-on treatment.
Eventually he set up his own physiotherapy practice and was working to the end.
Mr Kaye died of a stroke on April 23. Derek Ibbotson was among the sporting pals who attended his funeral at Rawdon Crematorium.
He leaves his partner Barbara, daughters Jan and Chris, three grandchildren and great grandchildren.
