RLWC trophy and Sports Minister come to Blackbrook

7th August, 2020

Sports Minister Nigel Huddlestone, Conor McGinn MP, Marie Rimmer MP and Paul Sculthorpe were among the guests at Blackbrook today

Blackbrook rugby league club today welcomed government Sports Minister Nigel Huddlestone and the Rugby League World Cup trophy to St Helens, at an event to mark the club’s community impact and their receipt of funding from the CreatedBy programme.

The Sports Minister was invited by Labour MP Conor McGinn, and was accompanied by Ralph Rimmer, RFL Chief Executive, Saints and Great Britain legend Paul Sculthorpe, Marie Rimmer MP, Cllr Anthony Burns, Cllr Andy Bowden and Council Leader David Baines. Guests had the pleasure of meeting club captain Craig Lyon, staff from the club, and observing a junior players’ training session.

Find out more about the visit here: https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/239/sports-minister-visits-blackbrook-rugby-league-club

Find out more about the RLWC CreatedBy programme at https://www.rlwc2021.com/facilities

Labour’s Cllr Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Leisure, is a regular at the Blackbrook club and was delighted to welcome the Sports Minister and the World Cup trophy. Anthony says: “Blackbrook rugby club is right at the heart of the local community, and they showed this during lockdown with the amazing support they gave to vulnerable and shielding residents. I’m really happy that the work Craig and all the volunteers did has been recognised by the government, and I’m grateful to Conor McGinn MP for helping to make this visit happen.

St Helens Borough Council is determined to support community clubs like Blackbrook and last year we committed to match-fund £500,000 to help them – https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/news/2019/july/19/rlwc-funding-boost/

I can’t wait for the World Cup and we’re all looking forward to welcoming Tonga and Italy to the borough.”

David Baines and Craig Lyon today at Blackbrook with the World Cup trophy

Council Leader David Baines was pleased to meet Craig Lyon, who during lockdown spearheaded the delivery of essential items to thousands of residents in the borough with the support of the Steve Prescott Foundation and the Eccleston Arms. David says: “It was great to meet Craig. Along with dozens of volunteers from the club he helped hundreds of shielding residents and #keyworkers during lockdown in #StHelens, working with Eccleston Arms Bar & Grill, Martin Blondel and the Steve Prescott Foundation.

On behalf of St Helens Borough Council and our entire borough, thank you to Craig and the Blackbrook club!”