HUNDREDS are today expected to attend the funeral service of Haji Suleman “Solly India” Atcha a stalwart of Deane and Derby Cricket Club who died yesterday at the age of just 55-years-old.

Mr Atcha, a popular figure on the local amateur cricket scene and in the community, died from a heart condition.

The service will take place this afternoon.

The married father-of-three joined Deane and Derby Cricket Club as a player when he first arrived in the 1970s before going on to become part of the committee.

In a statement the cricket club said: “Suleman was passionate about community work and had been doing this for decades. There are few others like him. He was a selfless character.”

Mr Atcha had been a leading figure in organising a reunion match between crickets who played in the old Bolton Association Second Division.

Also a keen footballer, he was helping to organising a reunion football match to be played later this year Mr Atcha,w ho was self-employed, gained his nickname because of his Indian roots.

His friend and fellow member of the cricket club also played tribute to Mr Atcha, describing as a true community spirited gentleman.

Ibrahim Kala said: “He was always helping in the community, always volunteering from coaching children at the grass roots in football and cricket.

“He would always support community fundraising events, he was very well known and was helping to raise money for a fence at the cricket club to stop vandal attacks.

“He would help wherever he could.”

Prayers will take place at the Zakaria Mosque at 1.40pm before internment at the New Overdale Cemetery at 2pm.

Members of Bolton’s amateur sporting world, and from across all communities are expected to attend