Albert Blan

[Blue Monkey]

It has just been announced on the club website that Lions legend Albert Blan has died aged 85.

 

http://www.swintonlionsrlfc.com/news/80

 

No doubt two minutes silence will be observed before this Sunday's big match at Widnes.

 

 

[RunItOffAfi]

From an Oldham fan, sorry to hear this. The big legend about AB was that, after the first 13 games of the 1962/63 season, when the Lions, I think, were lying just below mid table, he called all the players together at a training session and said "If we win the next 17 games, we'll be champions." And, guess what? It doesn't matter whether it was apocryphal or not, a legendary story about a legendary forward and captain.

RIP Albert.

[RIGGY]

I never got to see him play but met him quite a few times at Functions and he was a really nice person.   A very sad day

 

RIP Albert

[Blue Monkey]

Being of a certain age I saw Albert lead the Lions for the last 6 seasons of his career. My first full season (1958-59) with my juniors season ticket (price 7s/6d or 32½p) saw him wearing the no. 4 jersey in the pre white-V kit (Oct 1960) and before a young man by the name of Alan Buckley would shortly appear centre stage making that jersey no. his very own for many seasons to come.

Albert's winger was usually Gerry Doughty, who, as with the no. 4 jersey would soon find that his no 5 jersey was destined to be 'adopted' by John Stopford as the 'swinging '60s' came into sight.

And as with fellow native Wiganer Peter Norburn he moved from the three-quarters and into the back row of the forwards when inevitably he lost some of the pace he hitherto had in his younger days.

Albert's running speed had unsurprisingly slowed since hitting the 30 mark but his clever, quick thinking brain was operating faster than ever as he lead his '60s Lions into their greatest era since the interwar years.

Without doubt his crowning moment (or moments) was when he lifted the Championship trophy for TWO consecutive seasons, 1962-63 and 1963-64 when the town was treated to open topped bus parades with the silverware and all the players who had made it a reality.

At the end of the '63-'64 season 'Sir' Albert hung up his boots and made way for an exciting young local talent in the shape of Dave Robinson who had been 'groomed' in the second row pending the great man's retirement.

Nowadays we rarely come across players who would be regarded as true one club performers. Albert and several others belong to those noble few. Albert, Ken Gowers, Alan Buckley and one or two more were to be prime examples of that one-club breed of rugby league footballers.

 

 

 

 

 

[Blue Monkey]

From an Oldham fan, sorry to hear this. The big legend about AB was that, after the first 13 games of the 1962/63 season, when the Lions, I think, were lying just below mid table, he called all the players together at a training session and said "If we win the next 17 games, we'll be champions." And, guess what? It doesn't matter whether it was apocryphal or not, a legendary story about a legendary forward and captain.

RIP Albert.

 

Thanks Owdhamer, good onyer.

[lionsfanusa]

Saw him play many times. He was a great loose forward when the position meant something. And he was a great captain in a great team.

But my best memory is watching the team bus tour Swinton and Pendlebury after the first of the Championships in the 60s, Albert with trophy in hand as the bus went down Hospital Road, then racing it on my bike to see the festivities at the Swinton Town Hall.

I also seem to remember him missing an easy penalty which would have meant the Lions would have beaten the Aussie tourists 4-2. (I think!) We won't hold that against you, Albert, RIP.

[Spelly]

RIP Albert.

 

Spelly.

[Gowers Magic Hands]

Blue Monkey's reminiscences go back a little further than mine, but I remember Albert as a great leader, an old head leading the burgeoning youthful championship sides. I recall Albert guiding the side around the park and he was an excellent exponent of the chip over the top and regather. He also used to kick most of the shorter range goal kicks with Ken Gowers taking the long range kicks.

RIP and many thanks Albert for galvanising our great side. Condolences to his family. Albert's sons  memories of his Swinton career are recorded on the excellent Lions Tales  website 

 

http://www.swintonlionstales.co.uk/index.php/site/interview/michael-martin-and-paul-blan 

[Blue Monkey]

 ...with Ken Gowers taking the long range kicks.

 

 

I'm almost certain I was at a match at St. Helens when Ken Gowers kicked a penalty goal from his own half, perhaps 50 odd yards.

[class of 63]

Being of a certain age I saw Albert lead the Lions for the last 6 seasons of his career. My first full season (1958-59) with my juniors season ticket (price 7s/6d or 32½p) saw him wearing the no. 4 jersey in the pre white-V kit (Oct 1960) and before a young man by the name of Alan Buckley would shortly appear centre stage making that jersey no. his very own for many seasons to come.

 

Albert's winger was usually Gerry Doughty, who, as with the no. 4 jersey would soon find that his no 5 jersey was destined to be 'adopted' by John Stopford as the 'swinging '60s' came into sight.

 

And as with fellow native Wiganer Peter Norburn he moved from the three-quarters and into the back row of the forwards when inevitably he lost some of the pace he hitherto had in his younger days.

 

Albert's running speed had unsurprisingly slowed since hitting the 30 mark but his clever, quick thinking brain was operating faster than ever as he lead his '60s Lions into their greatest era since the interwar years.

 

Without doubt his crowning moment (or moments) was when he lifted the Championship trophy for TWO consecutive seasons, 1962-63 and 1963-64 when the town was treated to open topped bus parades with the silverware and all the players who had made it a reality.

 

At the end of the '63-'64 season 'Sir' Albert hung up his boots and made way for an exciting young local talent in the shape of Dave Robinson who had been 'groomed' in the second row pending the great man's retirement.

 

Nowadays we rarely come across players who would be regarded as true one club performers. Albert and several others belong to those noble few. Albert, Ken Gowers, Alan Buckley and one or two more were to be prime examples of that one-club breed of rugby league footballers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being of a 'certain age' like yourself Keith, all your recollections bring back great memories of that era of which Albert was at the forefront RIP and thanks for the memories

[RIGGY]

Albert would have been proud of the boys efforts over the past few weeks.

 

RIP Albert

[Blue Monkey]

Found Albert's obituary online in Wigan Today. Link below.

 

 

http://announce.jpress.co.uk/wigantodaynet/obituary/albert-blan/43723776?s_source=jpnw_wiga

 

 

Thank you Albert for all the good times.

[Blue]

I saw Albert Blan play for Swinton for a dozen years from the mid-50s, saw him lift the two championship trophies in 1963 and '64. Best memories of him are him cleverly taking a quick penalty kick and playing it to himself to start a breakaway move from his own half that led to a try in a Challenge Cup match at Workington, he put Graham Williams clear who then fed Stopford for a run to the line.  Also in the second championship season Swinton won 39-4 at Huddersfield and Albert scored a try, a rare thing, he was given the ball about 15 yards out with the line clear and just about managed the walk to the posts to touch down, knackered.  How we laughed.  R.I.P, Albert Blan.