ONE-time Saints hooker Kevin Taylor has died, aged 73.

Taylor only played eight of his 500 professional games in the red vee - but he still made an important contribution in tougher times for the club.

The number nine was signed to fill the void vacated by broken-jaw victim Graham Liptrot at the end of 1980 and he made his debut in the New Year's Day defeat by Widnes.

It was not the best year for Saints and in a brutal four up four down league, Saints were hovering perilously close to the drop zone at one stage.

And with Wigan relegated the year before, the Saints board were not taking any chances.

They needed a ball winner, in that era of contested scrums, and they got one in the former Oldham, Leigh and Swinton hooker.

Although he lost on debut, three consecutive wins followed including a landmark triumph at Hull KR.

His last game for Saints was at Blackpool at the start of the 1981 campaign.