I know Saints are about to embark on a new and exciting era but I hope you wont mind a little reflection on the past, it may stir some memories for others.

I was thinking back to the first Saints match I saw. I reckon it must have been early November 1957, I was only seven years old so you'll have to forgive me if memory has distorted it a little.
Saints had just signed Vollenhoven and he was playing for th A team against either Whitehaven or Workington. I went along with my dad, he paid for me through the juniors turnstyle, then shepherded me towards the boy's pen in front of the old clubhouse.
I stood against the boundary wall behind the posts, if I recall Voll scored a hat-trick, I can picture it in my mind now of him running behind the posts and touching-down.

There was an article about the match in the local paper a few years ago, apparantly Voll had made his debut the week before but because the 1st team were then away they played Voll in the A team to get a big crowd.....I think it said it is still a record for a reserve game.

Following from that my memories for the following years are a bit patchy, mainly cup game stick in my mind and games against Wigan they were the big events. My main memories kick in the 60/61 season notably the cup run,
we drew at home to Widnes in a rain soaked game but won the mid week replay, I don't recall the second round but the third round was a memorable game against Swinton.
They were a top side at the time, we were losing at half time (5-2 I think) and seemed to be tackling us out of the game until Dick Huddart charged through and scored Rhodes conversion put us ahead, it was still tight until Brian McGinn scored then Murphy clinched it.
The four teams through to the semi's were Hull, Halifax, Wigan and Saints.
Saints were matched with Hull, so that meant me & me mum on Gavin Murray's coach to Odsal, it was along drive pre M62. The game was tight we got our nose in front just before half-time and obviously went on to win.

That set up the dream final

Saints vs Wigan for the first time in the cup final
the first time we wore the Red V
my first trip to Wembley as an 11 year old all decked out with scarf and bob-hat.........an awesome day and a great win.

These days Saints seem to be in so many finals and big occasions but you don't forget your first one.

Just curious if there is anyone else on here who was at that Vollenhoven-A team game.

Anyone else got any memories of that era or the first match?

Saints 57

because its rugby league and its awesome

October 94 V the aussies with my dad, never watched a rugby match untill that day and because the GB lads didn't play i needed to go back the following week to see them. First derby was boxing day that year, somehow we found ourselves in the middle of the wigan speccies and and one of them was nice enough to give my dad a kiss on his forehead when they took the lead. never forget that, never stood in the away end after that!

That game had everything.

first game at KR,was a top 16 or top 8 play off(cant remember the format back then, maybe rouges can help us there)but saints had finished top and were playing the 8 or 16 based team which was keithley.I remember they had a trophy on show think it was for comming top,would have been around 69/70 was Tommy Bishops last season at Saints before he went to oz,team included,Cliff Watson,Kel Coslett,John Walsh,Frankie Barrow,sometimes wonder how these players would get on today given a level playing field of course.can remember going to wembley in 72 were we beat leeds 16-13,(jeez they have made us pay for that win

)..

My first time with the saints was from the hospital bed at St Helen's Providence Hospital having just undergone surgery on an ear drum and was just a toddler.
I saw the 1961 CC final on the TV, a day or two later the players visited the kids ward, Karalius and Murphy came over with the cup, 2 things I always remembered Karalius and his massive big hands and the players stinking of beer.
That year was the birth of the Red Vee and the year I became a supporter of the Saints. About 10 years later the older KC married into the family and got to know Warlow and Mantle pretty well through KC