MUCH-LOVED Bolton wrestling coach Tony Morris has died, aged 73.

The beloved coach, who taught thousands of children over the years, first came to wrestling in 1964 and spent 16 years as a successful competitor.

Tony’s passion, enthusiasm and determination led to him becoming a volunteer coach in 1977, as he transferred his range of technical skills to coaching young people at Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club (BOWC).

His wife Ellen said: "He was determined to offer quality wrestling coaching to young people all over the North West. Tony became a well-respected mentor and placed BOWC firmly on the map. He maintained that to be called a coach you had to have taken a kid off the streets or someone with no previous experience and take them all the way up to become British Champion, something he achieved with his son, Paul."

While continuing to coach at BOWC he managed the junior national team from 1993 to 2003.

From 1985, Tony travelled with many of his wrestlers as they competed for national, European, World, Olympic and Commonwealth medals.

Attending 12 world championships as coach and team manager, Tony achieved four gold, one silver and two bronze medals at one world championship, a feat unmatched by any other coach. He led teams to five European Championships and achieved one gold, one bronze and two fourth-places. In 1994 Tony was head coach of the Commonwealth Games wrestling team in Canada. The team had the unprecedented success of four medals in total, three silver and one bronze, still the highest standing in English wrestling.

He was father to Paul and Angela and grandfather to Daniella, Charlotte, Joe, Katie and Molly.