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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Luke Traynor

Avid Rugby League fan wins cheeky bet with wife to turn their home into a St Helens paradise

This is how a jubilant rugby league fan decked out his house after winning a bet with his wife about his beloved St Helens reaching the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

Ian Burrows made the amusing wager with his wife Lyndsay, with neither of them really believing that Saints would make it to the showpiece match on August 24.

But when St Helens trounced Halifax in the semi-final of the prestigious competition, that was the signal for 50-year-old Ian to turn their home into a Rugby League paradise.

Bunting has been hung from the roof and shirts in the club's famous red and white colours adorn the windows of the property in Sutton Heath.

The electrician labourer told the ECHO: "We're a Rugby League family.

"My wife Lyndsay is a Scouser from Kirkby, but she now loves the sport along with our three young kids.

Rugby fan Ian Burrows adorns his house with Saints flags ahead of their Wembley Final appearance Photograph Geoff Davies (Geoff Davies)

"This is the first time in 11 years that Saints have made it to Wembley, so we're going to enjoy it.

"I love rugby.

"I said I'd decorate the house if we made it, but she didn't think we'd get there as we weren't playing brilliant at the time."

Ian, who took two days to complete his Saints homage, says some people have even been dropping off rugby decorations for him to add to the growing collection.

It's not the first time he has embarked on such a challenge, and thinks that large numbers of households in the town who decorated their houses in Liverpool FC colours for the Champions League Final against Tottenham, should do the same for St Helens.

The dad-of-three, whose three children are 11, 12 and 13, named Aiden, Bailey and Southern, is bringing Lyndsay and his youngsters to London later this month for the big match against Warrington Wolves.

Rugby fan Ian Burrows adorns his house with Saints flags ahead of their Wembley Final appearance Photograph Geoff (Geoff Davies)

He added: "My kids play rugby - my wife was a bit nervous with them getting hurt when they started but now she's used to it.

"I'm confident we'll beat Warrington as we've already played them three times this season and won each time.

"I want to leave the stuff up until the Super League Grand Final which is in mid-October.

"It's good for the sport when fans really get involved in the community."

On Facebook, 34-year-old wife Lyndsay wrote on July 31: "Said to my husband if Saints get to Wembley you can decorate the house.

"Not expecting them too.

Rugby fan Ian Burrows adorns his house with Saints flags ahead of their Wembley Final appearance Photograph Geoff Davies (Geoff Davies)

"Well they proved me wrong and now I have a Saints decorated house."

Lynn Waring replied: "The whole town used to do it.. shop windows etc ...it was fabulous back in the day."

Joseph Coy said: "My wife said if Saints get to Wembley I can decorate our house.

"8pm last Saturday she came in with six tins of paint and 25 rolls of wallpaper."

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