A WELL-KNOWN former sportsman John Mullen has died suddenly at his home in Mitchell Street, Wellington, at the age of 77.

John, known as 'Mugs' to many of his friends, played a number of sports during his playing career - including football, darts, bowls, golf and squash.

But it was as a footballer with Wellington he will be mostly remembered. He was a member of the club's first team for a number of years, playing in midfield.

He spent much of his working life as a paint sprayer - mostly at Vassall & Clare, a garage at Bulford, and at F & R Cooling on the Wellington Trading Estate. Both firm no longer exist.

Wellington Weekly sports reporter Barry Knott knew him well. "John was a quiet, family man. Knee problems provented him playing sport in his later years but he continued his membership of the Wellington Bowling Club and regularly watered its flowers during the summer.

"I played football alongside Mugs at Wellington in my early days with the club and he was always one of the hardest working players on the pitch. He never stopped running and always gave 100 per cent. "