It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of former Salford player, Alan McInnes, on 28th December, 2017. Alan was part of that magnificent Salford side of the late sixties, having joined the club in November 1966, from Sale Rugby Union Club.
Having previously operated as a fly-half, he initially made the transition to rugby league as a stand-off half, but twelve months later moved to centre, where he continued to be a regular in the team, and proved to be quite invaluable as an exponent of the drop goal, at a time when this was valued as two points, the same as a [lace kick Over the ninety-four appearances he made in the Salford jersey he scored twelve tries and kicked a total of forty-two all goals, before playing his last game here, against the New Zealand World Cup Squad, in 1970.
A schoolteacher by profession, he taught at Kings School, Macclesfield, and then at Marple Hall, before returning to Kings, where he later beccame a governor. He used his teaching skills to good effect for Salford when he returned to join the coaching team as fitness trainer, which led, eventually, to his twice taking over as interim coach, in 1978, and again in 1982.
Two years later he took up the position of joint coach, alongside forward, Colin Clarke, at Wigan, and, between them, they can be credited with laying the foundations for the resurgence of the Riversiders into that all conquering side of the late eighties and nineties.
His funeral will take place on Wednesday 17th January, at 1.30pm, at St Peter’s Church, Prestbury.
