Tributes as former Shrewsbury Town assistant manager Graham Hawkins dies

Mr Hawkins, who was diagnosed with low grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma in August 2009 and underwent a course of treatment at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, died on Tuesday.

It was during this treatment that Mr Hawkins, who also played for and managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, decided he wanted to raise money for other cancer patients at the hospital.

His efforts raised thousands of pounds.

And hospital staff have described his fundraising efforts as 'magnificent'.

Doctor Sheena Khanduri, clinical lead for cancer services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: "I'm very sorry to hear the sad news about Graham and feel the trust has lost a great friend and supporter.

"Graham's magnificent fundraising efforts really helped to improve the experience of our patients.

"His fundraising efforts included donating iPads which offered a distraction and something else for patients to think about whilst they receive their treatment in our Haematology Day Centre and the Chemotherapy Day Centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

"On behalf of the trust I would like to pass on my condolences to Graham's family."

Mr Hawkins was in the dugout at the Gay Meadow in the early 1980s alongside legendary manager Graham Turner before going on to manage his boyhood club Wolves.

Brian Caldwell, chief executive at Shrewsbury Town, said: "Graham will be remembered by many Shrewsbury Town fans for the work he did alongside Graham Turner as his assistant manager.

"It was a spell where the club played at the highest level in English football so far and Graham is remembered fondly by Town fans for being part of that.

"The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Graham's wife, Jane, his sons, Ian and Richard and the rest of his family and friends at this sad time."

In 2013, Mr Hawkins and Mr Turner joined forces once again at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to present eight iPad Airs and two Notebooks to the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre. He also organised two fundraising dinners, one at Shrewsbury's Greenhous Meadow stadium and the other at Wolves' Molineux ground, with thousands of pounds of proceeds going to the Cancer Patient Care Fund.

His final role in football was spent working for the Football League for more than a decade as head of youth development.

Laurie Dalrymple, managing director of Wolves, said: "Graham made a huge contribution not only to Wolves but to football in general during his career.

"He was widely respected and well-liked, both inside and outside of football. Not just because of the very successful career he forged but his character off the pitch and the time he had both for professionals in the game and for supporters."

"It was typical of the man that he spent his final years raising money for fellow cancer sufferers at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital."

He is survived by wife Jane, sons Ian and Richard and grandchildren Lauren, Amy, Holly and Louisa.