Pardon my ignorance...

When did Saints adopt the red vee? During the late 60s, I assume? For what reason did they do this?

Just out of curiousity. Thanks.

1961 Challenge Cup Final.

Taken from St Georges strip.

i agree with sadfish.but a lot of people round st.helens say that the v was adopted from local bookmaker and director at the time bob collins,whose racing colours were a red v.he used to advertise regularly in the match programme.
but if our heritage site boss says it is copied from st.george,then who i am i to disagree.
i allways thought the reason we wore it for wembley was just a one off,to avoid a clash with the hoops of wigan,we wore a red band(hkr style)at the time

Your points could be correct my friend.

I know it was the 1961 cup final where it wasa first used and I know St George where using it at the time.

We didn't start to use it for a while after thart for league games so your comments may hold true.

I've not seen any documented evidence either way, maybe Batesy or Service or Dooley might know more.

But its the St George link that I hear most.

Inerestingly In the 1966 final Saints wore a White shirt with a Red Vee and Wigan wore a red shirt with a White Vee. Is the reason it stuck something to do with this?

Is that correct? I'm sure I've seen pictures from that match and I don't remember that.

indeed it is.

1961 Cup final

Saints......


Wigan....



1966 cup final

Saints.....


Wigan.....

Blimey - I obviously hadn't seen those pictures! Cheers Fishie.

The Saints Heritage Society have negotiated copyright to display the videos availalbe from the Gerrard Collection on its webiste, the page is here www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... age_id=333 Go watch its the only colour archive we know of of these two games.

The Saints Heritage Society have negotiated copyright to display the videos availalbe from the Gerrard Collection on its webiste, the page is here www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... age_id=333 Go watch its the only colour archive we know of of these two games.

My recollection of 1966 and what I was told of 1961 are that both clubs changed jerseys because of a clash. In those days very few people bought replica shirts and even fewer second choice shirts ; I say second choice because I recall that in those days in the event of a colour clash the home team changed strip. Both sets of supporters at Wembley would have had red/cherry and white scarves hats etc and it was felt unfair to make either team change colours.

If I remember the Red Vee shirt became associated with big matches and in 1965-66 as many replica shirts with the Vee (worn only once that season - at Wembley) were bought as those with the band.

I certainly remember one big match between Wigan and Saints for which both were allowed to keep their traditional shirts albeit with minor changes. I cannot remember whether Wigan had narrower or broader hoops than usual and whether Saints had a broader or narrower Vee than usual. Again I'm not sure whether by that time Saints had adopted the Vee for good or whether it was still their "big game" shirt.

I had a picture of that 66 match of Boston in action, never been able to get it back from the old pub landlord though

LOL - Gardner would be a prop in those days. Look at those bandy legs!