The local rugby community is mourning the loss of a man whose fund-raising efforts were legendary.
Frank Costello is estimated to have sold close to £500,000 worth of raffle tickets and merchandise in his time and was vital to the survival of the town's thriving amateur rugby scene.
He was a great friend to Leigh East ARLFC throughout his life,
where both his sons played and grandson Joe also plays. He also sold tickets for local rivals Leigh Miners Rangers.
Sadly, Frank died in Wigan Infirmary on Wednesday.
East chairman Keith Latham said: "We're devastated down at the club.
"He sold tickets to everyone and everybody in Leigh knew him for that.
"Frank would sell about £12,000 of raffle tickets for us over the summer every year and he really kept Leigh East alive.
"In the past 30 years, he's probably contributed about half-a-million pounds to the club.
"He was everything to us – caretaker, bar man, fund-raiser – and a really nice man to boot.
"I'm just gutted for the family and all our thoughts go out to them. He hadn't been well for years, but it was still a shock."
The funeral will be taking place at Sacred Heart on Tuesday at 10.30am. There will be a function afterwards from noon to 3pm at Leigh East's new clubhouse in Ledgard Avenue at Leigh Sports Village.
The full article contains 236 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
