OFFICIAL E-PROGRAMME Vs. Salford Red Devils 31 January 2020 | Kick-off 7.45pm BETFRED CONTENTS 04 06 10 A message from the Chairman Read Kristian Woolf’s thoughts Top News 19 26 35 On This Day Opposition Squads SUPER LEAGUE HONOURS: PRE–SUPER LEAGUE HONOURS: Editor: Jamie Allen Super League Winners: 1996, 1999, Championship: 1931–32, 1952–53, Contributors: Alex Service, Bill Bates, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2019 1958–59, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1970–71, Steve Manning, Liam Platt, Gary World Club Challenge Honours: 1974–75 Wilton, Adam Cotham, Mark Onion. St. Helens R.F.C. Ltd 2001, 2007 Challenge Cup: 1955–56, 1960–61, Totally Wicked Stadium, Challenge Cup Honours: 1996, 1997, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1975–76 Photography: Bernard Platt, Liam McManus Drive, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Leaders’ Shield: 1964–65, 1965–66 Platt, SW Pix. St Helens, WA9 3AL BBC Sports Team Of The Year: 2006 Regal Trophy: 1987–88 League Leaders’ Shield: 2005, 2006, Premiership: 1975–76, 1976–77, Tel: 01744 455 050 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019 1984–85, 1992–93 Fax: 01744 455 055 Lancashire Cup: 1926–27, 1953–54, Ticket Hotline: 01744 455 052 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, Email: [email protected] 1964–65, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1984–85, Web: www.saintsrlfc.com 1991–92 Lancashire League: 1929–30, Founded 1873 1931–32, 1952–53, 1959–60, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69 Charity Shield: 1992–93 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: 1971–72, 1975–76 A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN, EAMONN MCMANUS Welcome everyone to the first game in our defence of our Super League title . It is fitting and appropriate that it is against the Salford Red Devils, who gave us such a great game last October on that memorable night at Old Trafford. It is Kristian Woolf’s first game for us as Head Coach and I would like to wish him the very best of luck, not just for this game, but for a long, successful and enjoyable career with St Helens. I would like to welcome his family also to our club and to our Town. I’m sure that our fans will all wish him all the best and give him their strong support also. Although we have not recruited any new players for this season, I would expect a number of our younger players to improve further. They are “Producing and retaining also joined by some exciting new talent that has great local talent remains been promoted from our academy. Producing and retaining great local talent remains the the philosophy and philosophy and business model of the Club. We business model of the remain totally committed to this and it serves Club. We remain totally both us and British rugby league well indeed. committed to this and I expect a very tough game tonight. Much has been said about the players that Salford have it serves both us and lost but yet again they have brought in new faces British rugby league well who will ensure that they will perform strongly indeed.” and contribute fully to Super League. After tonight we have two further tough tests in quick succession away against Warrington and Hull. Hull in particular have recruited very strongly and I predict a vastly improved season for them. And then we arrive at one of the biggest games in our clubs history against back to back NRL champions, the Sydney Roosters, in the World Club Challenge on 22 February. Ensure that you get there and get behind our team like never before. We have a great deal to look forward to in the weeks ahead. Enjoy the game, the evening and the season. MAIN MATCH SPONSOR A WORD FROM THE BOSS.... KRISTIAN WOOLF “THANK YOU TO ALL THE SAINTS FANS WHO HAVE MADE ME FEEL AT HOME HERE IN ST.HELENS…” SPONSORED BY You have been in St.Helens now for A tough game! They have had a a few months – how are you enjoying number of pre-season friendlies life? leading into this so we know they will be ready, as we will be. They have I have been made to feel very welcome lost a few players but they have also from everyone in the Town with a brought some talented players in number of fans making the effort to and they have a real top coach in Ian come up to me and say hello which Watson so we are expecting a real is nice. My wife and family have now battle. settled in and we are all looking forward to what lies ahead. And you have a WCC to look forward too? Tonight is your first game as Head Coach – you must be excited? Yes, but we need to have all eyes on this round one fixture first and then Yes definitely. This is what we have Warrington in round two before the been building towards in pre-season. World Club Challenge comes around. Now the first game has arrived we just It will be the first chance to grab some want to get going and kick on with the silverware in 2020 and we know the season. Roosters have been the benchmark in the NRL for a number of years, but Are you looking forward to the we equally know we are a quality team atmosphere inside the Totally Wicked and we are confident we can bring it Stadium? home. Of course. As I said, the fans have Long term what are your aims as been great and I have been really Head Coach? impressed with the facilities here at Saints. It will be special to hear the I want to build on the success of last noise inside the stadium tonight and I year and win trophies. St.Helens is am sure that will drive the players on. renowned for that and so we want to continue with that successful tradition What are you expecting from Salford and I am confident with the team we tonight? have, we can do that! WCC PROMO TOP NEWS THIS MONTH SPF DONATE £10,000 TO MOSE MASOE The Steve Prescott Foundation is to donate a further £10,000 to the Rugby League Benevolent fund for the care and rehabilitation of former Saint, Mose Masoe. READ MORE! SUBSCRIBE TO NEW TV PLATFORM We are proud to reveal a brand new platform for Saints fans to enjoy including all the latest match action, features and behind-the-scenes content. SUBSCRIBE NOW! EAST STAND NOW ON SALE FOR WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE We have now opened the East Stand for our World Club Challenge clash with Sydney Roosters. READ MORE ONLINE ROUND 5 VS TORONTO MOVED TO WARRINGTON Toronto have confirmed our Round 5 clash has been moved to Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium. DISCOVER MORE ONLINE View all news ONEILS WALSH JOINS RUDGE AT SAINTS MEET YOUR SAINTS RESERVES SAINTS ACADEMY NEWS HALF HATTONS HALF AFEX SUBSCRIBE NOW AT TV.SAINTSRLFC.COM!… Exclusive access – full match replay, interviews, features & behind the scene action Plans startfrom £49.99 per year for Members or £5.99 per month. AND RECIEVE A 30 DAY FREE TRIAL WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR THE ANNUAL PLAN! CLICK HERE TO BUY K3 HALF PAGE CHAPELHOUSE HALF PAGE SAINTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LATEST LOTTERY RESULTS SAINTS BUSINESS MATCH ENTERTAINMENT WARRINGTON AUDI FULL PAGE WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE MEMORY LANE... by Alex Service International days: Wales v England, 1953. #668 George Parsons [back row 2nd from left] #692 Don Gullick [front row 3rd from right] are the Saints’ Welsh representatives. ON THIS DAY: 31st JANUARY 31st January How about this for a team of Saints’ Welsh imports, complete with their Heritage Numbers, who all joined 1874 from the rugby union code in the Principality? It could take on all-comers! It was 146 years ago today! The St. Helens Standard carried a report of Saints’ very first match, against #936 Clive Griffiths; #667 Steve Llewellyn, #692 Don Liverpool Royal Infirmary, at Boundary Road. Details Gullick, #853 Frank Wilson, #885 Roy Mathias; #1014 of the score and scorers is rather sketchy, to say Jon Griffiths, #826 Bob Prosser; #890 Mel James, the least, but, according to the paper: “On no side #662 Reg Blakemore, #947 Roger Owen, #812 John being called the Liverpool men had added another Warlow, #824 John Mantle, #797 Kel Coslett [Capt] touchdown to their score, a very pleasant game thus terminating in a draw in their favour”. Club Founder William Douglas Herman captained the team from T full-back. 1981 European Championship: France 35 Wales 5 at Stade de l’Egassiaral, Narbonne. Bustling front-rower Roger Owen made his Welsh debut and replaced fellow Saint Mel James from the bench. Clive Griffiths was the other replacement, with Roy Mathias at loose forward. 2003 Saints were beaten 39-41 by Sale Sharks in a ‘cross- code challenge’ match at Knowsley Road. The visitors from the 15-a-side code won the first half under union rules 41-0. The second half of rugby league saw Saints score 39 points without reply doing what they did best. It was certainly not a ‘point-less’ exercise in #662 REG BLAKEMORE WAS A the literal sense and was arguably more interesting than the usual ‘friendly’ clash. Yet it emphasised the TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR THE SAINTS technically different aspects of the two codes. AT HOOKER AFTER COMING UP FROM 02 RAINFORD SAINTS’ COLLECT HERITAGE NUMBERS! A number of Saints legends pick up their Saints Heritage certificates! #948 Colin Whittle, a doughty hooker from the 1980s #900 Tony Atherton, a talented half-back who was restricted to just one senior match as a result of a serious head injury.