Will Hopoate confirms immediate retirement as ex-St Helens man bows out of sport". 5 November 2023. a b "1st St Helens vs. Wigan game". Saints Heritage Society. 16 November 1895 . Retrieved 12 July 2009. James Roby: 'Heartbreaking' end brings St Helens rugby league great's career to a close". sky sports. 7 October 2023. Everton star Tim Cahill shoots commercial at Stobart Stadium". St Helens Star. 17 December 2009 . Retrieved 12 November 2010.

Northern Football Union League Table". Saints Heritage Society. 24 April 1924 . Retrieved 2 August 2010. Cash Converters become Saints' chief shirt sponsor". St Helens Star. 2 November 2017 . Retrieved 11 December 2022. was the year that saw Potter surrender to his critics and leave St. Helens. Criticisms from club legends like Paul Sculthorpe and Sean Long regarding his personal skills with the fans, [180] as well as the continued fan rejection saw him let his contract run out and, initially, seek a job in the NRL, [181] [182] [183] but eventually, and perhaps surprisingly, join Bradford on a two—year contract. [184] Names like Royce Simmons, [185] Mal Meninga, [186] and assistant coach Kieron Purtill, [187] were linked with the job for 2011. Simmons was the chosen man for the job, as announced on 22 July 2010. [188] [189] The 2010 season would also see legendary hooker and captain Keiron Cunningham retire from the game after 17 years with his one and only club. However, Cunningham would not be leaving without leaving a lasting legacy on the club. A lifelike bronze statue of Cunningham was built and placed on display in the town, before being transported to the club's new stadium upon its construction in 2012. [190] [191] He would additionally take up a coaching role with the academy, as well as a strength and conditioning role with the first team. [188] In light of these decisions, neither Cunningham nor Potter halted their personal and the St Helens team quest for success; shown by their tenth successive semi—final appearance in the Challenge Cup. [192] However, Saints failure to perform on the big stage was once more shown, going down in this semi—final by 32–28. [193] Defeating Huddersfield Giants in the qualifying semi—final in the 2010 play-off series by 42–22 not only saw Saints qualify for their fifth Grand Final in five years, but also saw the final ever game to be played at Knowsley Road. Fittingly, Cunningham snatched the final ever try at the famous old ground in typical fashion from dummy—half. [194] However, for the fourth year running, St Helens once more proved flops in the Grand Final. One of the finest finals of the Super League era was anticipated, [195] but the flamboyant Saints that the fans saw so rarely under Potter once more failed to materialise, and, in front of a near sell—out crowd of 71,526, they fell to a 22–10 loss to rivals Wigan. [196] It was not the romantic finish to the Saints careers of Potter, Cunningham or any of the departing members of the squad that many had hoped for, but nevertheless, a new era was just around the corner, as Simmons' reign began. Roby is a six-times winner of Super League with Saints, who will be looking to return to winning ways against Salford to stay in touch with the top six for a shot at the end of the season at sending Roby out on a high with a fifth successive Grand Final victory. Makinson summoned up a typical spectacular dive in the corner, while Batchelor made the most of delicious shape from the combining Lewis Dodd and Lomax to streak across.

He left to become player-coach of Rochdale Hornets in 1976, went on to coach Wigan for the 1979-80 season before returning to St Helens, coaching them for two years between 1980 to 1982. He is now life president of the club after fulfilling a number of roles for the Saints. Jim Sullivan Timeline". rugbyrelics.com. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009 . Retrieved 11 July 2009. Essentially a number 8 forward in the 15-a-side code, he represented Wales on eight occasions, including the 1964 tour to South Africa. Despite losing to the Springboks 24-3 in Durban, John had been the most outstanding Welsh player. Rugby League clubs were taking note, with Saints showing particular interest. As Football and latterly Gameday Manager, Kel has had the chance to put his great experience and organisational ability to good use. He is extremely popular with the playing and coaching staff at Langtree, who are the first to pay tribute to his hard work. By the early 1970s, John had won every honour in the game at club level. Despite showing the scars of battle, including the amputation of the middle finger from his left hand, he was still a major influence in the club’s Championship-winning sides of 1970 and 1971. Yet it was at Wembley in two Challenge Cup Finals that he is best remembered. John played in the 1972 Final against Leeds with twelve stitches in his head, as a result of a car crash, but it did not stop him playing a major role in the second row during the Saints’ 16-13 success. “I requested to the doctor not to put 13 in, for obvious reasons,” he recalled. “I decided to play wearing protective headgear. Fortunately, it was a gamble that paid off.”

a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017 . Retrieved 1 January 2018. He has played with and against the greatest players in Rugby league at club and international level and he also coached the Saints for a spell at the start of the Eighties and laid the foundations for future success. Despite all his achievements, he is a very modest and approachable man and is always willing to have a chat with the supporters about the game he loves. But there were good players about – whether they were old or not, they were capable of playing one good last game. Communication and experience were very important. Players talked to each other and helped each other a lot!” St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Hopoate, Davies, Ritson; Lomax, Dodd; Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Bellonly to lose out to the Leeds Rhinos in the final, 18–10, making the Leeds Rhinos the only team to win the Grand Final three times consecutively. A 20-year-old Kyle Eastmond scored all of Saints' points. [179] A trophyless year for the first time since 2003 was another catalyst to Potter's critics abusing and slating his appointment, with even rumours of rifts within the changing rooms. It’s an abiding boyhood memory of mine watching him perform with such distinction for St Helens and for Great Britain. It was an equal pleasure, in later years, to get to know the absolute gentleman that he was. He will be greatly missed, but also fondly remembered, by all.”