RUGBY League fans from throughout the area are teaming up to pay tribute to a local 'legend' who has made a massive contribution to the game, both at professional and amateur level.

A gala sportsman's dinner is being held in honour of character extraordinaire, Frankie Barrow at the Blackbrook club, Boardmans Lane on Friday, January 21 (7 for 7.30pm).

Speaker is former Saints and Great Britain scrum-half, Neil Holding, compere is former Wigan and Saints prop, Keith Ashcroft and the comedian is Paddy Green.

Tickets cost £20 and may be obtained from Roy Sharples on St Helens 635467.

Former Saints full-back Frankie (62) spent five months in hospital earlier this year suffering from acute septicaemia, but happily is now well on the way to recovery, and countless fans continue to rally round him.

Born and bred in the Rugby League hot-bed of Thatto Heath, Frank is the oldest and best-known of the three Barrow brothers (Tony and Billy were the others) who signed pro terms for their hometown club.

A tough-tackling full-back before switching to the back-row of the pack in the twilight of his pro career, he made 255 appearances for the Knowsley Road club between 1961 and 1972.

These included wearing the No. 1 shirt in the Saints' team that defeated Wigan 21-2 in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in 1966.

After hanging his boots up, Frank went on to coaching positions in the professional ranks at Oldham and Swinton, as well as a stint as assistant to colourful New Zealander Mike McClennan at Saints.

Frank, whose RL prowess first blossomed under the watchful eye of headmaster Gerry Landers at St Austin's school in the mid-1950s, also returned to his roots to become founder member of Thatto Heath ARLFC, which went on to become one of the top amateur outfits in the country.

More recently he was instrumental in reviving the old Vine Tavern name before the club merged with neighbours Portico Panthers to become Portico Vine.