TRIBUTES have been paid to an 'inspirational' running coach who died aged 69.

Radcliffe AC’s head coach Eileen Royle died in hospital on Sunday after losing her fight against cancer.

Mother-of-one Eileen, who lived in Little Lever in Bolton, had been a member of the club for almost 30 years.

Former chairman of Radcliffe AC Mark Emmett said she would be badly missed.

He said: “I knew Eileen well through our time together at the club but I also classed her as a friend.

"From the time that we worked together she really was my right hand person. She was very inspirational person who was innovative in her coaching methods.

“Eileen was a very strong willed person who always had the best interests of the club at heart and was loved by everyone there.”

Mr Emmett, aged 59, added that he remained close to Eileen and spoke to her regularly from when she was diagnosed up to when she died.

“It is such a shame,” he said. “Eileen will be a great loss to the club and to everyone who knew her.”

Tom West, aged 77, who founded Radcliffe AC in 1984 and ran the London Marathon with Eileen said that she was a real asset to the club.

He said: “Eileen was a very knowledgeable person who was always willing to help others. She will be sorely missed.”

Eileen joined the club in 1988 and became a member of the committee.

She later took on the secretary’s post for many years. She had also been secretary of the Cams Lane Community Sports Centre, dealing with facilities at the town’s Nellie Halstead Track area.

But she gave up the secretary’s position when she became head coach, wanting to spend more time setting up a structured coaching system for the club.

This included encouraging other members to take qualifications.

Her love was always track running and hiring Bury Track on a regular basis was a suggestion which was part of her sessions and still continues.

Many members have said how inspired they were by her enthusiasm and encouragement in training sessions and in racing.

In her own running career, she had competed in several marathons and ran under four hours in the London Marathon.

She enjoyed road running and on the track she won the club championship in the 40, 45 and 50 age groups. She also ran on the fells and in 2010 ran the Lakeland Trails Series – winning her age group.

Eileen became a regular figure at the 5k Bolton Parkrun at Leverhulme Park and recorded exceptional times for her age.

She even continued to jog following her cancer diagnosis and after she had treatment she decided to take on the 5k course.

On Saturday morning, many former and present Radcliffe members will turn out, many in club vests, at the Bolton 5k as a mark of respect.

Eileen leaves her partner Stuart and daughter Pip, also a keen runner.