RUGBY League fanatic Brian Simpson, who died after collapsing in his local pub, this week visited his favourite ground for the last time.

Store manager Mr Simpson, 57, from Atherton, had been a Leigh RL supporter since his school days and following his shock death his devastated family decided his funeral cortege should make a detour to Leigh's Hilton Park ground on the way to Howe Bridge St Michael's Church.

"It is what he would have wanted," said Mr Simpson's wife Joyce at home in Frances Place, Howe Bridge.

"Brian was mad keen on Leigh, he followed them everywhere and had been a supporter for nearly 50 years. We decided he should be buried in the chequered shirt and white sweater he always wore on match days and we had flowers in the shape of a rugby ball made-up in Leigh colours."

Mrs Simpson, who works at Atherton Steak House restaurant, described how her husband had gone alone to his local, The Oak Tree Root, in Leigh Road, Atherton, a short walk from their home: "He had only been gone 10 or 15 minutes and people who were in there said he was cracking a joke, went to hang up his coat and collapsed. He had suffered a heart attack and was unconscious in the pub but other regulars tried to revive him. He was taken by ambulance to hospital at Bolton but there was nothing they could do.

"He had never suffered any illness but heart problems seem to run in the family. His father died of a heart attack at 52 and Brian's brother, George -- known as 'Mr Magic Sponge' for his role at Atherton Laburnum Rovers' soccer club -- was only 55 when he dropped dead."

The former Astley St Stephen's and Leigh Manchester Road Secondary pupil grew up in South Lane, Blackmoor. At Manchester Road he played schoolboy rugby and one of his tutors there was Oscar-winning actor and RL fanatic Colin Welland.

Mr Simpson left school and went to work with the Co-operative Society, spending 22 years at stores in Tyldesley and Winstanley. He then moved to Hanbury's but a business merger put him back under the Co-op wing as manager of a store in Colne.

Mr Simpson died the day after he had watching his table-topping Northern Ford Premiership favourites beat Batley at Hilton Park. And, had he lived, the season ticket holder who went to all Leigh's home and away matches, would have been been there again on Sunday for the Gateshead game. Instead fans stood silently before the kick-off as a mark of respect for a loyal fan. Brian's friends and family supporters were there to ensure he was there in spirit.

Tuesday's funeral service was taken by former Atherton headteacher the Rev Don Vickers, now curate at Bedford St Thomas's Church in Leigh but assisting at Howe Bridge, who referred to Mr Simpson's devotion to the game.

And at Wednesday night's A team match with Doncaster at Hilton Park a match day video of the Centurions' win over Gateshead was presented in Brian's memory to his rugby-mad daughter, Rachel, 20, who is a student at UMIST and has been a regular Leigh matchgoer for the past 10 years.

Her brother, Christopher, was born in 1971 -- the year Leigh won the Challenge Cup at Wembley -- but neither he nor their mother share the rugby interest.

After burial at Howe Bridge Cemetery a buffet reception was held at The Oak Tree Root.