IT is with the deepest regret that we pass on the information that we have been informed of the death of one of the nicest men ever to work in Rugby League — John Prince, a man who was rich in his knowledge of both the amateur and professional game, especially in his native west Lancashire.
Everybody who was anybody in rugby league 30 years or more ago knew John, from Waterhead to Wigan, Saddleworth to Salford, Higginshaw to Huyton.
He was our ‘A’ team coach for a while, possessing a special interest in first the scouting and then the development of young players whom he would often refer to as “my lads”
He lived, for a time, at the back of Haydock Racecourse and many years ago I vividly recall driving over there one evening to interview him for the Oldham Evening Chronicle, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
John Chadwick, a former club secretary and club chairman back in Watersheddings days, now vice-president of the club and a close friend of current chairman Bill Quinn, said:
“I remember John well — a smashing bloke, one of the best. We took him on as a man with a great knowledge of young players in the amateur game. He coached the ‘A’ team and brought on a lot of our youngsters, especially the Cumbrian boys, Howard Hill and Chris McKinney when they first moved down here as kids.”
John also worked for Swinton Lions at a time when our former coach Tony Barrow was also with the Lions. Recalled Tony:
“John was head of youth at Swinton in my time there, Like me, he came from St Helens. He was a lovely fella. All the lads who came under his wing, be it at Oldham, Swinton or elsewhere thought the world of him.”
We are indebted to our former scrum-half-turned-prop, Micki Edwards, who has been spotted recently at Boundary Park, for tipping us off about John’s passing.
Micki also comes from St Helens, but he is now living in Great Harwood, near Blackburn, where he owns and runs a bar and spends a lot of time raising money for under-privileged children,
So thanks to Micki for the message about John — and condolences and heartfelt sympathy to John’s family and friends at this sad time.
Thanks for the memory John — they were good days!
