Rugby star Micky loses cancer battle (From Worcester News)

Rugby star Micky loses cancer battle

1:14pm Friday 19th October 2007 in

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A LEADING light of the Worcestershire rugby scene has passed away just a fortnight after marrying his long time companion.

Michael Knott wed Corleen in his final long battle to overcome lung cancer, the disease which claimed his life despite not having smoked for 30 years.

Micky, as he was known, was 64, and spent most of his life devoted to rugby. He will be cremated just a day after England reached the Rugby World Cup Final.

Born in Worcester, Mr Knott attended St Peter's Primary School and then Christopher Whitehead's before joining Halls as an apprentice plumber. In 1965 he formed a building company called Buildec with life-long friend Micky Winwood.

But it was Mr Knott's love for sport which many through the county will remember about him. When he was 15-years-old he joined the Worcester Colts and five years later he joined the fledgling Pershore rugby club. Here he installed showers, converted out-buildings and built a club house.

In 1969 he skippered Pershore to win the first Templar trophy, and later returned to Worcester rugby club where he captained the winning team of the North Midlands Cup. He continued to play in the first team for Pershore until he was in his 50s and then became a coach. He lived the last years of his life in Wichenford.

Lifelong friend, Terry Rose, aged 64, of Pershore, said: "He has done so much for rugby in Worcester, he was like a father figure to all the young players, he had a lot of time for them. He was responsible for introducing a lot of people to rugby, and he was still coaching right up until a few months before his death.

"No-one can ever fill the space and the void he has left. He was a one of a kind, and once you had met him you would never forget him."

It was not just rugby which Micky enjoyed, he was a member of the Gobi Desert Rafting Society and completed the 100 mile raft race six times along the River Wye, once with a broken leg. Other sports Micky enjoyed were windsurfing, diving, skiing and weight lifting.

Mr Rose added that fellow rugby players described Micky as a one man demolition derby,' who used his powerful 6ft frame to maximum effect on the field.

Fellow friend Ian Ansell said of him: "He was a brave man who fought for his life like he played rugby."

Mr Knott leaves his wife Corleen, step daughter Makailla and step grand daughter Ruby.

A funeral service will be held Pershore Abbey on Monday, October 22, at 2pm, followed by a reception at Worcester rugby club.