In Memoriam: Frank Barrow

One of the most recognisable figures in British rugby league has passed away at the age of 83 after bravely battling illness for well over a decade.

Chairman Eamonn McManus paid tribute, stating: “Frankie was very much a boyhood hero of mine. An absolutely tough-as-teak fullback who epitomised local pride when adorning some of the great Saints sides of the 60s.

“It was an absolute privilege to get to know him personally during my Chairmanship. It is his type of player and his type of man that ensured my own lifelong support for our great Club.

“On behalf all at and associated with the Club, I pass on my heartfelt condolences to the Barrow family.”

Frank Barrow was born and bred in the rugby league hotbed of Thatto Heath on 11th January 1943 and attended the famous St Austins school, where he became a schoolboy star, like other famous old boys such as Alex Murphy and Austin Rhodes. Generally regarded as a larger-than-life character and a real hard man on the field, Frank was quite reserved as a schoolboy. “We sat next to each other and knocked about together,” remembers his good friend Tommy Bracken. “He was a quiet lad and an altar boy. Frank was a centre in those days, before he gained fame as a full-back with the Saints.”

After signing for his hometown club, he became a real crowd-pleaser with the Knowsley Road faithful, a big-hearted player and utterly fearless, who would pick the ball up in the full-back position and get as far as he could, leaving a trail of hapless defenders in his wake. In defence, too, he was equally enthusiastic and uncompromising, definitely a man to have in your side when the going got tough.

“He had a heart as big as a lion,” says his younger brother Tony, who played in Saints first team as a centre with him on many occasions. “He always seemed to be there to help anyone. He was the people’s friend in that respect, and he was as hard as nails.”

A motor mechanic by trade, Frank made his senior debut at Warrington on 7th January 1961 in an 8-5 victory at Wilderspool and he became a fully established member of the side following Kel Coslett’s injury early by the 1964-65 campaign. His first winner’s medal was in the 1964 Lancashire Cup Final against Swinton, at Central Park and the honours just kept on coming! He played a major role in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final, when rivals Wigan were comprehensively beaten 21-2.

Frank played in three successive Championship Finals, from 1965-67 [including the replay in 1967) and also wore the number one jersey in the 24-12 defeat of Leeds in 1970. There were also two Floodlit finals and four Lancashire Cup final appearances: 1964, 1967 [plus replay] and 1970. Frank was highly rated by his team-mates and a good club man. The occasion never got to him, no matter how big and he was always enthusiastic and upbeat in the dressing room.

“His tackling was out of this world,” remembers Tony. “He taught me all about full-back play. You had to stand at least 25 yards back. You had to be square on to any opponent who broke through and then you moved towards them. Let them think what they had to do next. He had an effective way of dealing with Wigan’s Billy Boston too when he would target his lower body, knees to ankles, rather than be bowled over by his upper body strength.”

Frank’s contributions to the never-to-be-forgotten 1966 ‘four cups’ campaign were immense, according to long-time supporter Adrian Lawrenson. “Firstly, when Minnie Cotton ran onto the field to attack Dewsbury forward Dick Lowe in a torrid semi-final at Swinton, it was Frank [who else?] who escorted her off the field with his arm round her, no doubt advising her not to waste a good umbrella unnecessarily [it wasn’t hers either!] as he had the situation in hand. However, when another stable character called Alex Murphy put up a towering ‘up and under’ against Hull KR in the Championship semi-final, all hell broke loose. After much ‘bad blood’ between the two teams following Rovers’ controversial Challenge Cup exit at Knowsley Road in April, Murph duly lit the blue touch paper with a towering ‘bomb ’, with the result that Frank ran fully 50 yards to send several Rovers’ players sprawling on the Knowsley Road turf. This was a mere dress rehearsal for the Championship final rumpus, when Minnie Cotton gave us a repeat performance, this time minus umbrella! This time, she was armed with her trusty handbag! Frank was duly engaged in a ‘disagreement’ with Halifax stand-off Barry Robinson, while Minnie was escorted off for a second time. Different times but what memories!”

A Lancashire County representative at Knowsley Road, Frank played his last match for the Saints as a second rower at Batley, on 16th April 1972, when a weakened team won 14-7 at Mount Pleasant. It was the last of his 244 games for the club, including 13 tries and 3 goals. In the meanwhile, he had married Barbara Dickson, in 1970 and they later lived in the Nutgrove area, close to his former childhood stomping ground.

Frank later joined Leigh and went on to win the Floodlit Trophy with the Hilton Park outfit, before retiring as a player, with 13 major final appearances under his belt! Frank later coached Swinton and Oldham, together with a memorable spell as assistant to coach Mike McClennan at Knowsley Road. Frank also assisted Mike with the Tonga team in the 1995 World Cup. He is also revered in the amateur game, for his work with the Thatto Heath, Portico Panthers and Vine Tavern clubs – putting much back into the local community.

A familiar voice as a summariser on Radio Manchester, he was instrumental in setting up the Thatto Heath club in 1981. “He thought that it was an absolute travesty that there wasn’t an amateur club in the area where there was so much rugby league talent,” says Tony. “Then later he revitalised the Portico Vine club. They put him in their Hall of Fame recently as a gesture of respect for what he had done. Frank did so much for amateur rugby league and the grassroots in St Helens.”

Frank was a member of a real sporting family. His brothers, Tony and Billy, played for the Saints [all 3 played for Leigh too] and all three of the brothers have had sons playing professionally: Tony Barrow with Swinton [Tony senior’s son], Paul Barrow for Swinton and Warrington [Billy’s son], and Stephen [Frank’s son], for Wigan, Hull and London Broncos. A real family affair.

A bona fide rugby league legend in every respect, Frankie was inducted into the Saints’ Past Players Hall of Fame in 2005 and can duly take his place amongst those other local lads who wore the number one jersey with great pride and distinction, such as Geoff Pimblett and Paul Wellens.

At this sad time, the St Helens R.F.C. would like to send its condolences to Frank’s wife, Barbara, sons Stephen and John, together with grandchildren Nathan, Jess, Jake and Neve.