FORMER football star Johnny Spuhler has died in hospital after a short illness.

The centre forward and winger graced Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park during the late Forties and early Fifties, and was the oldest-surviving Boro player aged 89.

Sunderland-born Spuhler started his career with his home town club, but impressed Boro while guesting during the Second World War.

David Jack paid £1,750 for the former England schoolboy player in October 1945, and he made his debut in a 5-2 home defeat by Barnsley.

When league football resumed after hostilities, Spuhler became a mainstay of the side.

He played 241 games for the club, scoring 81 goals, before he joined Darlington in 1954 after relegation to Division Two.

He played all his Boro football in Division One, starring alongside the likes of Wilf Mannion, George Hardwick, Rolando Ugolini and Micky Fenton.

Only 12 players in the club's history scored more goals than Spuhler, while only Mannion scored more post-war top-flight goals for the club than his total of 69.

After he scored 19 goals in 67 league games for Darlington, Spuhler was player-manager of Spennymoor United, in County Durham, and later managed Shrewsbury for a short time.

He was also full-time coach for Stockton FC, and ran Yarm Post Office for eight years.

Spuhler, who lived near Barnard Castle, continued to be a regular spectator at the Riverside until his illness.

Dave Allan, from Middlesbrough Football Club, said last night: "All at MFC are saddened to learn of Johnny's passing and our sympathies go to his family and friends.

"Johnny was a huge star in one of Boro's most successful periods, immediately after the war and remained a staunch fan of the club throughout his life.

"He was a real character and will be much-missed."