FORMER Saints winger Les Jones, Heritage Number 841, who graced the Knowsley Road flanks from 1967-1981 has helped to launch the book that celebrates the 150th anniversary of St Helens RFC.
A real flyer down the flanks, Les scored 283 tries in 485 appearances in the red vee, a career total only surpassed by the great Tom van Vollenhoven – quite a rap!
Saints Indeed provides a fascinating cameo of 150 years of St Helens RFC compiled by two of the club’s staunchest supporters.
It is about people who ‘made’ the club into what it is today, whether players, administrators and supporters, from the supposed ‘amateur’ days, through semi-professionalism to the full time players of the modern era.
This historical and eclectic sporting cavalcade sees the club facing nomadic circumstances in its early existence before having a settle base at Knowsley Road for 120 years and then on to the marvellous purpose-built stadium at Peasley Cross.
And famous names abound, from Alf Ellaby to Tommy Makinson; Harry Cook to Eamonn McManus; Cliff Watson to James Graham; Tom Foulkes to Paul Wellens; Jim Sullivan to Kristian Woolf—100 biographies for the 150th anniversary. What’s not to like?
The front cover itself is an unusual image – three Saints’ fans of a different vintage counting down the hours in central London before the 1972 Challenge Cup final against Leeds.
In the middle, is legendary supporter Brian Dillon, who was renowned as a true devotee of St Helens RFC and hated to miss matches under any premise.
Unfortunately, illness took him away far too soon and he was to miss the subsequent glories of the Super League era.
On the back is a scene taken from the West Stand against Salford Red Devils on 13th May 2023. An unforgettable occasion when James Roby broke Kel Coslett’s all-time appearance record of 531 appearances.
Supporters were given special placards to hold up to celebrate this monumental event as the great man came on to the field.
The authors also explain how their environment, growing up in Thatto Heath and Haydock respectively, was a huge factor in becoming diehard fans of their local club in a rugby mad town.
Saints Indeed is available initially from the Saints Store at the Totally Wicked Stadium. The first 150 copies are available in colour, priced £15.
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