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RELATIVES of deceased former Saints players attended an open day for the presentation of heritage number certificates to cement their place in the club's history.

The recent Open Day at the Totally Wicked Stadium was organised by Saints Heritage Society, in conjunction with the club for the presentation of Heritage Number Certificates to relatives of deceased former players.

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The heritage numbers were launched earlier this year thanks to the painstaking efforts of people including Jack Leyland, Curtis Johnstone, Vernon Roby, Adrian Lawrenson, Paul Cotham, Bill Bates, Dave Dooley, Paul Cunliffe and Alex Service, who all played their part in the process which is a staggering culmination of hard work and endeavour.

The Open day was a great success, with relatives of past greats travelling from far and wide for the occasion.

“Everyone who came was so proud of the fact that their relatives had played for the club,” says Alex Service, of the Saints Heritage Society.

“They shared stories and brought in memorabilia, too, which really made the occasion special.

"Some travelled from Cumbria and Yorkshire to be there and, with a certain event on the near horizon, we were delighted to see a range of Challenge Cup medals brought in, including those from William Caveney (1897); James Shallcross (1915); Duggie Greenall (1953 and 1956) and hooker Frank McCabe, who missed out on the 1956 final through injury, but was still given a winner’s medal by the club – a marvellous touch indeed!”

Also among those present was the widow of Ken Large, the Saints centre and Challenge Cup winner of 1961 whose interplay with Tom van Vollenhoven in that final saw him involved in one of Wembley's most iconic tries.

Further Open Days are in the process of being confirmed over the next few months and full details will be provided at a later date.