On Wednesday evening, Northampton Saints inducted five legends into the club’s Hall of Fame in a prestigious night at the Gardens.
Each of the quintet, which included British and Irish Lions, a dominant figure from pre-war Saints and England rugby, someone who kept the club functioning as secretary and president for nearly 40 years, and the man who captained the team to Heineken Cup glory in 2000, were recognised in the club’s history and either the player or their family were presented with a cap and certificate to commemorate their induction.
The five inductees were:
BILLY WESTON Seventh on the all-time appearance list with 390, and a third of his 15 seasons spent as captain. First choice flanker for England for five years and a member of the first East Midlands team to win the County Championship
JERRY GORDON Mr Saints for 36 years between 1929 and 1965, overseeing all aspects of the club’s operations as secretary and then president, including helping the Saints get back on its feet in the years after World War II to become the leading team in the country
BOB TAYLOR One of the best flankers of his generation, with 313 Saints appearances, 16 England caps and four British and Irish Lions tests on the 1968 tour of South Africa. In later years he became a significant rugby administrator with both the East Midlands and the Rugby Football Union, of which he was president in 2007/08
PAT LAM The captain who lifted the Heineken Cup in 2000, who in three seasons brought a winning culture to Franklin’s Gardens culminating in that memorable May afternoon
PAUL GRAYSON The Saints’ record points scorer, with 2,786 from 259 appearances, including the three penalties which won the 2000 Heineken Cup. Also a British Lion in 1997 and a member of England’s Rugby World Cup winning squad in 2003
The inductions took place in the Rodber Suite at a Celebration Dinner and each of the inductees, or their respective families, took some time to speak to SaintsTV during the evening about the honour of being inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
