TWO former Salford Red Devils teammates with Warrington history died within five days of each other earlier this month.
The Salford club have announced that Warrington-born and bred Trevor Rabbitt, and Jackie Brennan, who played for The Wire at the end of his career, have passed away.
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Trevor, who was 81 and a former Warrington pub landlord, played for Salford during the 1960s, after signing from the Cadishead and Irlam amateur club.
Within days of joining Salford he made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old on March 17, 1962, standing in for an unfit Jackie against Bradford Northern at Odsal Stadium.
He went on to make 101 senior appearances over the next seven-and-a-half years, his opportunities limited due to the number of quality half-backs playing for the club at that time, although he was a member of the Salford squad that went to Wembley in 1969.
Trevor was a significant presence in an outstanding Salford ‘A’ team, his inspiring leadership recognised through him taking over as captain.
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His last first-team appearance was on August 16, 1969, in a Lancashire Cup tie at Wigan when he partnered stand-off David Watkins, before transferring to Rochdale Hornets for a £500 transfer fee three months later.
Trevor’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, August 26, at 10.40am at Walton Lea Crematorium.
Wigan-born Jackie, who was 89 and made three appearances for The Wire in the 1970-71 season, started out on his professional career with Blackpool Borough in 1954.
He was picked for Lancashire twice in 1958, playing at stand-off, his partner in both matches being a teenage Alex Murphy.
Jackie arrived at The Willows from Blackpool for £5,000 in August 1959 and stayed for 11 seasons.
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It was in the 1963-64 season when Salford switched Jackie from stand-off to scrum-half that he became the acknowledged ‘brains’ behind the team.
It was in this position that he was to play at Wembley in 1969, partnered by David Watkins, who had that season taken over the captaincy from him.
In his last few seasons at The Willows he played at loose forward, a position he occupied in his last of 329 Salford appearances at Huddersfield on October 4, 1970.
After deservedly receiving a £3,500 Testimonial cheque in 1970, he joined Warrington on a free transfer.
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