WE all have our childhood Saints heroes – that first player who catches your eye as a novice spectator, tentatively finding your feet on the old Knowsley Road terraces while trying to comprehend the wisecracks from the old heads around you.

Invariably those eyes are drawn to the finisher on the flanks and the people of St Helens have been blessed with some wing wizards over the decades – from Tom van Vollenhoven to Tommy Makinson.

(Image: Supplied by Curtis Johnstone)

And as a young fan, rocking up to Saints in the late 70s, it was the size, power, aggression and finishing prowess that made Roy Mathias this boy’s own hero.

Llanelli-born Mathias, popularly known as Slasher, turned 75 this week – as good an excuse as any to celebrate one of the town’s favourite adopted sons.

Quick for a big man, the dual code Welsh international thundered over for 218 tries from more than 400 appearances in the red vee spanning 11 seasons.

That tally puts him in fifth on the club’s all-time try scoring chart – a mark of the massive impact he had between 1972-83.

(Image: Supplied by Curtis Johnstone)

The 70s were the golden age of Welsh rugby union and Mathias made his international debut alongside some of the greats of the XV-man code in April 1970 against France at Cardiff Arms Park.

That side featured household names like skipper John Dawes, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards and the towering figure of Mervyn Davies at Number 8.

But like so many of his countrymen, Mathias was enticed north to club that had enjoyed huge success in tapping Welsh talent.

And at the time Saints were blessed with compatriots Kel Coslett, John Rees, Frank Wilson and John Mantle - a Welsh contingent that would be further bolstered in the 70s by Mel James’ arrival and John Warlow’s return.

A touchdown on debut and then in each of his next three games set the tone for Mathias' 26-try maiden 1972-3 season, but that was just for starters.

The following year the flame-haired flank-man powered over for a phenomenal 40 tries which included scoring five against Rochdale Hornets.

(Image: Supplied by Curtis Johnstone)

Mathias, outside classy England centre John Walsh, topped the try charts again as Saints lifted the 1974/5 League Championship.

More silverware followed the following year – with Wembley being the icing on the cake of a trophy treble that included the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy and Premiership. The 1977 Premiership Trophy was his last medal with the team as the side began to go through transition.

Mathias was such a loyal servant that when he was granted a testimonial he was allowed two matches – and took the Saints down to play a Welsh XIII at his hometown Llanelli in June 1982, with a few thousand turning out at the town's football ground show the player's enduring popularity in his hometown.

Evidence of that popularity came in my last job as a reporter at the Birmingham Mail, some 25 years ago when chatting to the Moseley groundsman and former wingman Alan Thomas – who also hailed from Llanelli.

When mentioning I was from St Helens, Alan beamed and immediately gave me a tale .

“When I was just setting off it was Roy Mathias who taught me (a small, but quick lad) how to tackle a big fella like him without getting trampled on. It was a lesson I took on board,” he said.

There is clearly a pride that bonds Llanelli folk together, but the man who made Knowlsey Road roar in the 1970s is as equally popular in his adopted town.

If you want to write about your own favourite childhood hero, then drop me a line - even if it is just a couple of sentences.

Email: mike.critchley@nqnw.co.uk