Remembering tough-as-teak St Helens local hero Roy Haggerty

A proud Thatto Heather and a real local hero on the terraces – Roy Haggerty scored 115 tries in 363 appearances for St Helens between 1979-1991.

Never the biggest of forwards, but what Haggerty lacked in size he more than made up with heart.

Something that underpinned his honest hard work and a fearless willingness to take the ball in hard and a sheer determination to break the line.

There was nothing in his play book about surrender and finding the floor, and once he had stopped making ground the hands would wriggle free, Houdini like, and the pass would be flicked out whether there was a man in support or not.

He was a player who saw many a coach, team mate or spectator have their hearts in their mouth at times given his unpredictable, unorthodox approach.

If the opposition had built a brick wall across the park, the indefatigable Haggerty would have still had a crack at running through it.

It was that which made him such a favourite on the terraces - a real, genuine, boyhood hero.

But that affection for Haggerty was also about timing too.

Haggerty emerged into the team at a time when Saints' glory days had ended, big stars had retired or were about to, and with crowds plummeting it meant the money to bring in big signings was not there.

It was a vicious circle - but the only thing that broke that downward spiral and prevented them following Wigan into Division Two was the crop of good St Helens youngsters which included Haggerty.

Another of Thatto Heath's rugby playing sons, Haggerty's strong displays on a Thursday night in the A team, got him into the first team panel and he soon established himself.

Although the generic pen pictures in away match programmes would always declare what he was capable of 'once he develops physically' which some thought a euphemism for being scrawny, there was nothing weedy about his displays.

Defences soon found that out as they failed to deal with the 'Haggy shuffle'.

And it would be any means necessary to break the defence, using the hard parts of his body to break the line - most notable the brace he scored in the 1983 Challenge Cup quarter final tie win over Leeds at Headingley.

A trail of amber and blue lay in his wake after Hurricane Haggy had cut a swathe through the Loiners defence.

In one Lancashire Cup tie against Barrow in 1981 Haggerty even deployed his head his to repel full back Steve Tickle's attempted tackle en route to the line.

As his career progressed he switched from centre to second row, where he would earn a GB tour spot and he also added further strings to his bow, slotting 20 drop goals.

But there was also the comical side to Haggerty's personality that endeared him to the fans - and there is a long list of urban myths around his presence on the 1988 Australia tour.

He had that wonderful capacity to make people laugh - even when he did not mean to.

In 1986, under the old two subs rule, Haggerty had been taken off late in the game at a muddy Dewsbury.

Opting to sneak off into to the Crown Flatt baths before his colleagues got to the clean water, Haggerty got a rude awakening when five minutes from time Saints picked up a late injury and needed a replacement.

The call went down the tunnel, and moments later a sheepish looking number 12 ran on to the field with a head full of foamy white shampoo suds.

Sport is about endeavour and entertainment, and it is fair to say and Roy gave us that in abundance.

Apart from the Lancashire Cup and Premiership Trophy medals of 1984-85, and the John Player Trophy success from 1988, Haggerty’s collection matched Saints’ fortunes of the time.

Haggerty may not have left with drawer packed with winners’ medals, but he certainly filled the hearts of the supporters who cheered, laughed, roared and groaned with him every week in the 80s.

Haggerty was a pure one off; a player who brightened up many a cold, wet afternoon at Knowsley Road and one who makes fans of a certain generation smile a warm smile at the mere mention of his name.