Tributes flood in for Wolves legend Mike Gregory

Nov 20 2007 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

WARRINGTON led the tributes for former Great Britain captain Mike Gregory after the Wolves legend died yesterday, aged 43, following a four-year battle with a neurological disease.

The Wigan-born former Warrington loose forward, who was confined to a wheelchair for the last 12 months, lost consciousness on Sunday night and passed away yesterday, a family spokesman said.

He leaves a widow, Erica, and two sons, five-year-old Ben and nine-year-old Sam.

The Gregory family traced his illness back to an insect bite while on tour of Australia with the Great Britain academy team in 2003. It is thought the bite caused him to develop progressive muscular atrophy, a form of motor neurone disease.

He spent the last three years battling the illness and won many new admirers for his courage in adversity.

Gregory played virtually his entire career with Warrington and won 20 caps for his country, the most memorable of them in the third Test in Sydney in 1988 when his long-range try clinched the first British victory over Australia in a decade.

He also captained Great Britain to two Test series victories over New Zealand before beginning a career in coaching.

Warrington were quick to pay tribute to their former player.

“Everyone at Warrington Wolves, players, staff and fans send their condolences to Mike’s wife Erica and his two young sons Sam and Ben.”

Wolves chairman Lord Hoyle added: “I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Mike’s death and my thoughts go out to his family and friends.

“Mike served our club with distinction as a player for 12 years, including captaining Warrington in their last Challenge Cup final appearance in 1990.

“Mike’s brave battle against illness and his efforts to raise awareness of progressive muscular atrophy has been an inspiration to us all.

“He will be greatly missed, particularly by all his friends here at Warrington Wolves.”

Wolves coach Paul Cullen was a friend and former team-mate of Gregory.

“It’s a very sad day for us all, I have lost a true friend, my thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Gregory began the Super League era as assistant to coach Shaun McRae at St Helens, who lifted the inaugural Super League title and twice won the Challenge Cup at Wembley during his time on the staff.

He then coached Swinton before joining the backroom staff at Wigan, initially as academy coach and then as assistant to Stuart Raper.