Len McIntyre RIP : Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:31 am
I am sad to report that Len died yesterday.Len was signed from Spring Valve ARLFC Wigan, in November 1953. He dveloped into a great hooker with very good pass distribution and sound defence.Len could also be relied upon to step up and take goal kicks. Indeed he netted 12 goals in just 2 matches for the Saints, including a highly creditable 8 goals in the home demolition of Rochdale Hornets in the 1956/57 season.
Len spent the first two years at Knowsley Road mostly turning out for a very strong Saints A team. However, Len reached the top of his game in the 1955 to 1956 season. In this season he scored his first try for the club in the home victory over Rochdale Hornets. He also notched up two braces of tries against Salford and Widnes in the following stanza.
Doubtless his greatest ever moment in a Saints shirt came in the 1956 Challenge Cup Final against Halifax. Len along with great front row partners Alan Prescott and Abe Terry secured plenty of possession on that great afternoon when Saints won their first ever Challenge Cup.
Len also missed out in the Lancashire Cup Final in October of the same year as the great Oldham team defeated the Saints by 10 points to 3.
Afdter 28 matches for the Saints first team Len was sold to Barrow in August,1957 for £750. Len then moved to Oldham where he played 212 games for the Roughyeds and represented Great Britain against Australia in a test match in 1963.