Peter Brimble, who has devoted his life to the game of bowls and was instrumental in convincing Harry Dolman to include a six-rink indoor bowls court at Ashton Gate stadium, has been nominated for a centenary degree.

He first played bowls at the age of 13, angering some of the members of his first club who thought he was too young, and further ruffling feathers when he won the club championship aged 16.

At 28, he became the youngest player ever to represent England. Away from the rink, Mr Brimble rose to become president of the World Indoor Bowls Council.

Mr Brimble, 77, was nominated for a centenary degree by his son-in-law Paul Wherlock from Uplands.

Mr Wherlock, 42, said: "I believe that Peter is a real unsung hero in the bowling world. He has done so much over the years.

"He is an incredible chap and it's amazing that he has never been recognised for his enormous contributions before, because he has worked so hard for the world of bowls and put it to the forefront of his life."

Mr Brimble was characteristically modest when he heard he had been nominated.

He said: "Being nominated is obviously a great honour, but when I did those things, I just did them and got on with it.

"I'm a good organiser and enjoy administration. I became England team manager for 27 years which was the next best thing to playing.

"I do miss playing and being so involved with bowls. It was my life. But I don't miss playing through the rain outside in the summer. We used to get absolutely wet through."

Mr Brimble said that two definite highlights of his life in bowls were playing for England and seeing the indoor bowls rink built at Ashton Gate.

"The first time I got picked for England I was 28 and the next youngest player was 50," he said. That was a breakthrough. All the other players called me 'son'.

"The first time you are picked for your country is a great honour, but in bowls you do not get caps for every time you play, you simply get a single badge to go on your blazer.

"I captained England a number of times as well. To lead your national team out on to the green is just so special."

Before the rink was built at Ashton Gate, bowlers had to play at Bristol South Baths which was in poor condition.

After several failed attempts, Mr Brimble persuaded Harry Dolman, chairman of Bristol City and himself a bowler, to incorporate an indoor rink beneath the new Dolman Stand.

Mr Brimble masterminded the transfer of more than 150 league teams to Ashton Gate, where bowls was played for 31 years from January 1971, contributing more than half-a-million pounds to the football club.

At the peak of his game, Mr Brimble won the national singles and triples championships and was runner-up in the national pairs. On the administrative side, he was an international selector for 25 years, attended more than 4,000 meetings and travelled more than 80,000 miles up and down the UK and also to New Zealand with the England team in 1988.