A LEGEND of the glory days of North-East amateur football has died aged 88.

Derek Lewin scored in each of Bishop Auckland FC’s unequalled hat-trick of FA Amateur Cup wins between 1955-57.

He also won five England amateur caps, was a member of the 1956 Great Britain Olympic squad – managed by Manchester United team boss Matt Busby – and after the Munich air disaster in 1958 joined fellow Bishops’ players Warren Bradley and Bob Hardisty in boosting depleted ranks at Old Trafford.

“Derek Lewin was a wonderful player. He had feet to match his brain and could conjure defence-splitting passes with apparent ease,” wrote Alan Adamthwaite in his book Glory Days, about the Amateur Cup exploits.

He lived in Lancashire, worked in the family bacon importing business, became president of Lancashire FA and was for 15 years a member of the FA Council nationally.

About 15 years ago he underwent a triple heart bypass, more recently had a hip replacement operation but was enthusiastically back on the golf course at Royal Lytham St Anne’s. He died from prostate cancer.

He also organised annual reunions of Bishops players from the 50s and early 60s, though the two-blue line grew ever thinner. Only two players from the Amateur Cup winning sides now survive.

Mr Lewin had played for Shildon while on National Service at Catterick in 1949, was persuaded by Oldham Athletic manager George Hardwick to join the Third Division club as an amateur in 1952-53, scoring on his debut.

Bishop Auckland, beaten by arch-rivals Crook Town in the twice-replayed Amateur Cup final of 1954, signed him on December 21 1954. He made his debut, against Shildon, on Christmas Day.

Driving an MG Magnette, he was usually joined on the cross-Pennine journey by Liverpudlian full back Bert Childs and legendary goalkeeper Harry Sharratt. They would spend both Friday and Saturday nights in a local hotel before heading homeward.

He’d frequently return to County Durham from his home near Chorley, Lancashire, usually driven by Alan Adamthwaite.

“I don’t think he ever told the same story twice, he had such a massive fund of them,” said Mr Adamthwaite.

“He was a really delightful man with friends ranging from Colin Cowdrey to Stirling Moss.

“It wasn’t name dropping. In his day Derek was almost as big a name as any of them.”

Football club director Terry Jackson said that the news was devastating. “Just last weekend, until he became ill, we’d planned a tour of the town and ground for Derek and his extended family.

“He was one of the finest amateur players of all time, a wonderful man, highly intelligent, a wonderful ambassador for the club. We’ve had some wonderful footballers at the club, but he was the man who had everything.”

Former Bishop Auckland chairman Steve Newcombe payed tribute on Twitter, writing: "One of our Bishop Auckland FC's all time heroes Derek Lewin has sadly passed away.

"Derek was a truly remarkable person who I was proud to know, RIP great man."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.