FORMER Saints marketing and media manager Simon Dawson thinks especially with the World Cup underway readers would be intrigued by a soccer link between St Helens and tournament hosts Brazil.

Simon gleaned some amazing information when reading Aidan Hamilton’s book ‘An Entirely Different Game: The British Influence on Brazilian Football’.

St Helens Recreation player Harry Welfare certainly left his mark. Born in Liverpool in 1888 he joined the St Helens side at the beginning of the 1909-10 season as a 21 year old.

At the time St Helens Recreation played in the Lancashire Combination which was a competition that included the reserve teams of several first division clubs.

Simon explained: “Renowned for being tall, powerful, quick and skilful he remained the club’s centre-forward for most of the rest of the season. After leaving St Helens Recreation he played for a number of different teams over the next two years including 2 games for Liverpool FC in 1913.

“While playing football Welfare had started to teach in Liverpool schools and, given the offer to teach in Rio, he left Liverpool FC in mid-1913. Having heard that Welfare had played First Division football in England, Rio’s oldest and most successful club, Fluminense, were eager to sign him.

“Welfare’s first game for Fluminense was against English team Corinthians, on August 21 1913, and he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory. Welfare’s scoring record continued and by the time he left Fluminense in 1924 he had scored 163 goals in 166 games (he is still Fluminense’s fifth leading goalscorer) and been in three championship winning sides.

“He also coached Vasca da Gama to several league titles. “Welfare was made a Fluminense life member and died on the September 1,1966 aged 78.

“Another St Helens link with early football history along with the exploits of Alice Woods and Lily Parr who played for Dick Kerr's Ladies.”