FORMER Huddersfield Town player Peter Dinsdale was a pioneer in football.

Mr Dinsdale, 65, lost a three-year battle with cancer at his home in Canada on June 5.

He went to Canada in 1967 as one of the first English players in the first professional soccer league in North America.

Mr Dinsdale and his fellow pioneers paved the way for hundreds of English players to follow suit in later years.

He was also one of the first players to take part in a loan transfer deal when he was loaned by Vancouver Royals to his home-city club, Bradford Park Avenue.

Mr Dinsdale was born in Bradford and began his career at Leeds non-League club Yorkshire Amateur.

Huddersfield Town signed him in 1956, but had to wait until his national service ended before he could play full-time.

Mr Dinsdale made 239 appearances as a left-half for town between August 1959 and October 1966.

He forged a reputation as a no-nonsense and versatile half-back.

He was transferred to Canadian club Vancouver Royals by Town in 1967, for £6,000.

He was then loaned back to Bradford Park Avenue until the North American Soccer League season started the next year.

After settling in Canada, Mr Dinsdale got into coaching.

His first post came with the Canadian national side as they tried - and failed - to qualify for the Mexico World Cup in 1970.

Mr Dinsdale also coached clubs in Vancouver.

Former Town teammate Ray Wilson said of Mr Dinsdale: "Peter was hard, very competitive and unwilling to shirk any kind of challenge.

"Off the pitch, he was a grand bloke, a good mixer."