There are not many of us of all ages that have played rugby in Merseyside over the years who will not have come up against the great Jimmy Mac - I remember him well from my days at St Edwards Old Boys RUFC in the 1980s.

Bernie Gavin informed me at the weekend that Jimmy sadly died two weeks ago on Thursday 18th August. Born at the end of WW2 in 1945 he was 71years old, and by most accounts played rugby for the best part of sixty of them.

He started the game in 1954 aged 11 whilst a pupil at St.Edwards College, making his debut at scrum half for Mary's aged 17. In 2004 to celebrate 50 continuous seasons during which he played thousands of games, missing only a handful of through injury and amassed hundreds of points for the 1s, 2s & 3s hundreds of people turned up at Blundellsands for a testimonial match to watch him play for Marys in a 12-12 draw against a Waterloo side.

Jimmy said at the time ``I know most of the lads and one of them offered to get a team together to play us.

``We had a lads versus dads game before the testimonial, which was a good laugh.

``I'd like to thank everyone at Waterloo for their hospitality, and everyone who came for making it such a memorable occasion. ''

Friends and teammates presented him with a signed photograph of England star Jonny Wilkinson who wrote: ``All the best Jimmy. Thanks for encouraging youngsters to get involved in rugby over the years. I hope I'm still as fit as you and still playing when I'm your age. All the best. ''

Jimmy was touched by the number of people who turned up for him.

``The message from Jonny Wilkinson was superb. '' he commented.

A technical drawing teacher at St Mary's College he continued playing beyond this captaining the Third team for many years and is reckoned to hold the record for playing the most amateur games.

Indeed he starred in a game two years ago against Merseyside Police 2s featuring our very own 'cop turned robber' Jason Keating. The match report read:

11 Apr 2014

St Mary’s OB Vets 44 Merseyside Police 2s 12

A GROUP of elderly players everyone thought were past it enjoyed a great victory last Saturday, but this was not England in Paris – it was St Mary’s Old Boys Vets team at Gorsey Lane.

Despite the grey hair and creaking limbs, St Mary’s fixture against Merseyside Police’s second team was played at pace and with some great passing from both sides. The Police scored first but Saints replied with tries from Tim Hughes, Jason Keating, Vinny Charnley and septuagenarian Les Bumford.

Scrum-half John Baker kept his forwards trundling and the rucking and mauling was superb.

Phil Blakemore nearly scored after a driving maul, but grounded the ball on the five metre line by mistake.

Fly-half Jim McInerney added a couple of conversions to give the Vets a 44-12 win.

Man of the match was No.8 Jason Keating for some powerful running throughout the game.

Nothing new there then! Jason is one of thousands of players who played with or against the great Jimmy Mac and Southport RFC one of hundreds of clubs Jimmy lined up against. We are honoured to have been amongst them and on behalf of everyone at Waterloo Road we send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and St Marys team mates

The funeral is at St.Helens Church, Crosby at 3pm tomorrow (Thursday 1st September).

Thanks for the memories Jimmy and rest in peace in that cabbage patch in the sky.