Gordon Taylor OBE pays tribute to Roy Hartle, who has passed away at the age of 83.
The full-back made 499 appearances for Bolton Wanderers during the 1950s and 60s and was part of the club's 1958 FA Cup-winning team.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor OBE said: "I would like to pass on my deepest condolences to Roy's family on behalf of myself and all members and staff at the PFA.
"Roy will be deeply missed, he was a gentleman off the pitch but one of the toughest opponents on the pitch.
"He formed one of the finest defences in football and was part of the FA Cup winning team of 1958.
"As a PFA delegate and Management Committee member, Roy played a significant role in the abolition of the maximum wage for footballers"
Other tributes have been made to Roy including current Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon who said: "I'd like to pass my condolences from the players and the staff here on to his immediate family.
"The word 'legend' is bandied around quite often but I think it's very fitting for Roy.
"If you look at his career and his contribution to the club, it was huge."
Former team-mate Syd Farrimond said: "He was a hard player but a real gentleman off it.
"They don't make them like that anymore, that's for sure.
"When Stanley Matthews came to Burnden Park, Roy put him down the strip along the side of the pitch and Matthews just shook his head.
"He was our union man, and when he told you to pay you paid. And he was a very nice man."
The thoughts of everyone at The Professional Footballers' Association are with Roy's family and friends at this sad time.
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