THE son of former Saints half back John McAtee was on the subs bench for Manchester City in last night’s Champions League game against Paris Saint Germain in the French capital.
Eighteen-year-old James McAtee made his senior Manchester City debut earlier this month when he came off the bench to play in the Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.
His dad John McAtee was an early starter, making his Saints debut at the age of 16 in a 38-8 League Championship win over Hull FC at Knowsley Road in October 1992.
Scrum half McAtee, who hails from Salford, played seven times for Saints - including three matches in the inaugural Super League season.
He also had a spell on loan with South Wales, before returning to play amateur rugby at Eccles and later played rugby union with De La Salle while in his early 40s.
John’s eldest son, 22-year-old John, is ex-Shrewsbury and Scunthorpe and scored for National League outfit Grimsby at Bromley last night.
They are an amazingly sporty family going back generations.
James and John’s granddad – also called John - played scrum half for Leigh.
He had three brothers Peter, David and Billy, who all played professional rugby league - the first two for Swinton, with Billy at Leigh.
James McAtee is yet another son of a former of a former Saint making his way in top-flight football.
Last year Alfie Devine, whose dad Sean played scrum half for Saints in the early 90s, debuted for Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.
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