Blue Monkey Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunItOffAfi Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIGGY Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monkey Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monkey Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionsfanusa Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spelly Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 RIP Albert. Spelly. "--- and then on the eighth day, God created Rugby League."Daily, my intense dislike of the Pinks, Rugby Yawnion, Manchester United, and far-right politics, grows ever larger, and will continue to do so forever more!Question! What's the connection between Rugby League and Rugby Yawnion? Answer! There isn't one!My girl-friend asked "If you had to choose between me and Swinton who would it be?" I replied "You know the answer to that one without even asking!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowers Magic Hands Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monkey Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 ...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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
class of 63 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIGGY Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Albert would have been proud of the boys efforts over the past few weeks. RIP Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monkey Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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