MANY Rugby League stars have spent a lifetime in the game without having the merest sniff of Wembley.

But, on the other side of the coin, Saints' chairman Eric Ashton is poised to become involved in his FOURTEENTH Wembley Final when he leads out Bobbie Goulding and his men on Saturday, May 3.

These include captaincy of deadly rivals Wigan on six occasions ie versus Workington (1958), Hull (1959), Saints (1961), Wakefield (1963), Hunslet (1965) and Saints (1966).

Wigan's clash with Castleford at Wembley in 1970 found Eric entrusted with the coaching reins, and on moving back to his spiritual home at Knowsley Road he was coach versus Widnes (1976) and Leeds (1978).

62-year-old Mr. Ashton was also a member of the Knowsley Road board against Halifax (1987), Wigan (1989 and 1991), and chairman against Bradford Bulls last year, when he established a unique record in acting out the triple roles of captain, coach and chairman of sides reaching the Twin Towers.

And if that is not enough 'Ash,' as Eric is popularly known at Saints, is set to chalk up another record as the club make consecutive appearances at Wembley for the first time.

For the former Great Britain centre and captain also made successive visits first as a player with Wigan in 1958 and 1959, and then as player/coach with the same club in 1965 and 1966.

Add to that little lot captaincy of the Great Britain which lost to Australia in 1963, and it will be seen that Eric is no stranger to the hallowed turf, and can rightly be dubbed the man for the big occasion.

This latest distinction for Mr. Ashton is yet another milestone in a glittering career rewarded with 26 Test caps, involving Ashes-winning tours of 1958 and 1962 (he was skipper), plus the World Cup squads of 1957 in Australia and 1960 in England, when he led the victorious side.

Sporting achievement on such a grand scale was recognised by the Queen in 1966 when Eric became the first Rugby League player to be awarded the MBE, and he has now rendered 42 years service to the game, the last 22 to Saints.

Father-in-law of ex-Saints' stars Graham Liptrot and Johnny Smith, as last year Mr. Ashton will be accompanied to Wembley by his wife, Doreen, and daughters Michelle and Beverley, plus grandchildren Alexandra, Ryan, Victoria and Gregory will also be proudly looking on.

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