He worked as an assistant coach at Bradford before being appointed Bramley's head coach.[citation needed]
Personal life
Spillane married Edith Coyle in Bradford in April 1938.[4] The marriage caused Spillane to be sued for breach of promise by Lily Prust to whom Spillane had previously been engaged. At trial, in July 1938 at Bradford County Court, Miss Prust claimed that she and Spillane had become engaged in 1937 and were at the time of Spillane's marriage still engaged. Spillane asserted that the engagement to Miss Prust had ended by mutual agreement. The jury found in Miss Prust's favour and awarded her £67 10s in damages.[5]
The damages award forced Spillane to petition for his own bankruptcy in October 1938.[6] The bankruptcy was not discharged until 1956 when a dividend of 4s 11⁄4d in the pound (21%) was paid.[7]
Spillane died on 2 December 1991, and was buried at the Killingbeck Roman Catholic Cemetery.[citation needed]