KNEE trouble ended the professional Rugby League career of little Jimmy Honey - but he was 50 when he made his last oval-ball appearance for a St Helens pub's junior side.

He turned out in ordinary shoes as emergency full-back for Clarendon Recs against Parr British Legion.

And playing in his dad's old position, at stand-off, was Jimmy Honey junior, later to make his name with Saints and Warrington.

This interesting snippet of sporting history has been kindly provided by rugby buff John Harvey, who discovered the fascinating info while browsing through the yellowing pages of a 1965 local newspaper.

Before turning pro at the age of 27, Jimmy, a mercurial stand-off who came from Central Street, St Helens, staked a place in junior rugby history.

He was a member of the Gerards Bridge club which, in 1922, created something of a record in carrying off two trophies in one day.

They beat Pendlebury Rovers at Leigh in the afternoon final of the Lancashire Junior Shield. And a few hours later they conquered St Helens Shamrocks in an evening match at Knowsley Road to pick up the Greenall-Whitley Cup.

Jimmy, a little big 'un at 5ft 2in and 11-stone in weight, carved out a pro career with St Helens Recs in the days of that illustrious pack triumvirate of Smith, Fildes and Mulvanney. He regarded Bill Mulvanney as the most powerful forward ever to don a rugby shirt - an 'enforcer' with the hug of a grizzly bear.

Some idea of little Jimmy's value to a side can be judged from the fact that, when almost 30 years of age, Leeds offered £1,000 (an incredible amount during the 1930s) for his signature.

MY thanks to John Harvey for spotlighting once more that amazing cup double (has anything like it ever been emulated?) and for restoring my personal memories of Jimmy, the amazing little rugby warhorse.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.