Tributes have poured in from Whitehaven RUFC following the death of former player and club treasurer Michael Cottier last month.

Mike, 51, who was born and bred on Kells, first pulled on a Whitehaven shirt back in 1986/87 when he was 21 and in doing so, forged a bond with the club, which continued throughout his life.

He was a winger by trade and was a prolific try scorer in this position, outpacing many opponents with his speed and guile.

The club said: “Mike was a fine sportsman who respected his opponents, played fairly and gained their respect.

“He still holds and has held for many years the club record for the most consecutive number of games played, playing an unbroken sequence of 120 games.

“Throughout his rugby career Mike played in most positions on the park when asked, without fuss.

“The essence of Mike was, that he would do what he could in any capacity and position for the betterment of the Whitehaven club.”

He was also hailed for being ever-present at training, the man you could always depend on to be there whatever the weather.

“In the most horrible of conditions, Mike was someone who put his heart and soul into his rugby,” the club added.

“He always pushed himself to the limit. He was very competitive and was a great role model for not only the younger players but everyone who was fortunate enough to have played in his company.

“Mike was also such a sociable and likeable character, rugby has a great way of bringing out the social side and Mike was a mainstay of the craic on a Saturday night.”

He was also an active committee member and treasurer of the club for a number of years.

And a club spokesman said he would be remembered fondly: “A smile permanently fixed to his face, he was a popular man.

“Mike will be remembered throughout the Cumbrian rugby community as a great rugby player but also as a fine, decent, kind and honourable man.

“Mike’s popularity was reflected in the large turnout at his funeral, where many attended in the maroon and white colours of Whitehaven RUFC as well as the British Lions colours worn by Mike and his friends who travelled to Australia in 2001 to follow the team on a trip of a lifetime.

“Then followed by a celebration of Mike’s life in the rugby club, where it very much resembled and felt like a post match get together, a sea of maroon and white which he would have loved.”

Rugby was just one part of Mike’s life, as he was also a big family man.

Son of Billy and Maureen, he leaves behind wife Liz and sons Jack and Harry, as well as brothers Peter and Paul.

The club added: “His sons are Mike’s biggest legacy, through his and Liz’s guidance, love and protection, the two boys have flourished and we are sure will continue to flourish under the care of Liz and both families.”

He also had a keen interest in nature, doing what he could to create a natural habitat for wildlife plants and flowers at the family home.

He also regularly rescued injured animals and nursed them to better health.

.