It is with great sadness that Northampton Saints announces the passing of former player Alan Southwell.
Southwell made 245 appearances in the engine room for the men in Black, Green and Gold between 1953 and 1970, scoring 14 tries across his 17-year Saints career.
Born in Corby in 1934, Southwell’s love of rugby began at a young age – with the lock’s passion for the sport staying with him through school, his National Service with the Royal Corps of Engineers, his time at Corby Rugby Club and, perhaps most notably, his prolific career at Northampton and with the East Midlands.
And Southwell’s impact at Saints would reach further than his on-pitch performances, with the lock’s influence instrumental in shaping the Club into the Northampton Saints we know today.
From designing former versions of the clubhouse at Franklin’s Gardens to chairing the grounds committee, Southwell stayed a part of life at the Club long after hanging up his boots and was awarded a Saints Legend award in 2016.
A love of Saints was passed from Southwell onto first his wife, Peggy, then three daughters, Linda, Helen and Zoe, and later his grandchildren Bob, Alice, Izzie, Ollie, Tobey, Niamh and Edward – with his commitment to sportsmanship something that was handed down the generations.
Southwell’s funeral took place on Thursday 2 December at Wellingborough Crematorium, with friends and family present.
