ANOTHER link with Saints’ glorious past has been broken following the death of former hooker Len McIntyre at the age of 78.

Len was aged 22 when he won a Challenge Cup winner’s medals for the Saints against Halifax in 1956.

He had stepped up into the first team following a knee injury to Frank McCabe against Bradford Northern in the earlier rounds.

Len was more than up to the task and played in both matches in the epic semi-final clashes with Barrow.

The former Wigan junior player had been a stalwart for a very powerful A team since signing for the Saints in November 1953 and played in every position in the pack at the time.

He became a fine hooker, providing a steady stream of ball for his team-mates. He was also good in the loose, with an impressive work-rate.

The 1956 Challenge Cup final was one of the high points in his career, when his fellow front-rowers were skipper Alan Prescott and that marvellous player Nat Silcock.

Len, who could also fill in as a goal-kicker if need be, made 28 appearances for Saints, including the 1957 Lancashire Cup final against Oldham at Central Park, when the Roughyeds won by 3-10.

His last match was a friendly against Barrow in the Ward Cup at Knowsley Road at the start of the 1957-58 campaign.

Saints won 79-13 and, ironically, Len was soon on his way to Barrow for a fee of £750.

He was later signed by Oldham, playing in more than 200 matches, and earning a call up to play in Test match football against the visiting Kangaroos in 1963.

He also went on to represent Liverpool City, his home town club Wigan and Warrington, before retiring in 1970. He went on to coach the Colts team at Wilderspool for a spell.