AN estimated 20,000 Saints' fans will converge on Wembley Stadium on Saturday for the mouth-watering Centenary Challenge Cup Final with Bradford Bulls, kick-off 2.45pm.

The game is a sell-out and local travel firms report massive bookings and many motorists will also head down the M1, while a series of special trains are scheduled to leave St. Helens Central Station

The Knowsley Road side, who will make their 13th Wembley appearance, will be seeking to repeat their Silk Cut trophy trumph of last year over the Bulls, with an epic 40-32 success being the culmination of arguably the best game seen at Wembley.

The team leave Knowsley Road at10am this morning (Thursday) with a question mark hanging over the fitness of centre Alan, who has an hamstring injury. But the good news is that forward Derek McVey should be ready to resume, and will probably be in the starting line-up.

The possibility of centre Scott Gibbs making a shock return to the Saints squad should Hunte be ruled out has been discounted, with both his present club Swansea and the Welsh Rugby Union refusing permission.

The Star was first alerted of Gibbs' intention to make himself available by a Midlands RU contact on Thursday of last week, and Saints did declare an interest, but by Tuesday it was clear the idea was a non-starter.

Saints' chief executive David Howes is urging supporters to turn up in force to give the team a rousing send-off this morning, and elaborate plans are now in place for a similar home-coming and civic reception at Knowsley Road on Sunday afternoon.

Widnes-based Stuart Cummings, who took charge of last year's final, will again be the referee, while the Rugby League have stated that a decision on who presents the Challenge Cup will be dependent on the result of an issue of national importance taking place today!

Saints' skipper Bobbie Goulding (PICTURED) will be hoping to notch the two points at Wembley that he needs to reach the 1,000 points mark for the club. Vice-chairman Tom Ellard will be at Wembley after having to content himself with armchair viewing in 1996 after hip surgery.

Saints' hooker Keiron Cunningham will be seeking to emulate his brother Eddie, who won the Lance Todd Trophy when playing for Widnes against Hull in 1982.

Saints' physiotherapist Janette Smith, who became the first woman to attend a team at Wembley with Saints in 1989, and then again in 1996, will complete a unique treble with the Knowsley Road side.

Welsh prop forward Stuart Evans, who played for Saints from 1987 to 1991, is looking for photographs of his days at Knowsley Road in order to display them at The Bear and The Bear on the Hill pubs run by his family in Neath.

Now 34, Stuart still turns out for Swansea and, along with Scott Gibbs, appeared in the team defeated 33-26 by Cardiff at the Arms Park on Saturday, and the former Saints pair are expected to play against Neath this week.

'Big Stu' tips the scale at 20 stone nowadays while Gibbs is a mere 16 stone and, through the Star, Evans wishes to be remembered to his friends in St. Helens

North West Video boss Ron Lee is appealing for film footage and memorabilia of Saints' throughout their history is order to publish a video tape. He can be contacted on St. Helens 29976.

A cabaret evening in aid of the Gus O'Donnell kidney machine fund will be held at St. Anne's club, Sutton, on Wednesday, May 14. It will feature the Mike Callaghan Roadshow and tickets price £2 are available from Ann Collins on 818708.

Answer to correspondent Harry Houghton, of Whiston: The Lance Todd Trophy award has been shared on only one occasion, and that was by Ray Ashby (Wigan) and Brian Gabbitas (Hunslet) in 1965.

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