FORMER Saints’ forward Doug Holland has died at his Cheshire home at the age of 84.

Great grandfather Doug grew-up in Herbert Street, Sutton and signed for Saints in 1950 after going to Knowsley Road for trials. The front or second row forward moved to live at Moss Bank and after Saints let him go on loan to Liverpool City he later joined Workington Town.

A tall, powerful player Doug was a member of an impressive Derwent Park pack that included internationals Brian Edgar, Norman Herbert and renowned bald-headed loose forward and captain Billy Ivison.

“He was transferred to Hull Kingston Rovers then Bradford Northern from where he retired due to a knee injury,” said his younger brother Arthur, who lives in Blackbrook. Their sisters Jenny and Margaret live in Australia.

Doug, who had played for Lancashire, then became landlord of a pub in Hull but he and his wife moved back to St Helens as custodians of Peasley Cross Labour Club before setting up home in Ellesmere Port then settling at Bretton, Chester.

He leaves a wife, June, sons Neil and Peter and a daughter, Debra.

The funeral will take place on Feburary 7 at Blacon Crematorium, Chester.

Doug Holland extreme right, back row, is pictured with Saints’ all-conquering ‘A’ team that in 1952-3 did the double winning the Lancashire Combination Cup and Shield. His team mates pictured are: (back row, from left) Roy Farnall, Ronnie Stott, Alan Winstanley, Stan Thornett, Billy King, Owen Moore, Alec Davies; (front row, from left) George Hunt, Billy Adams, Wilf Roach (captain), Peter Metcalfe and Brian Howard.