Despite being a relatively small, often overlooked town, St Helens has produced more than its share of world class exports.
The weekend saw St Helens RLFC defeat Penrith Panthers in a dramatic tie in Australia to take home the World Club Challenge trophy, making them the first English team to win the title in Australia since 1994. The victory was described as "seismic" for the sport by Saints legend Jon Wilkin.
The victory down under is just the latest instance of St Helens sportspeople carrying the torch for our small town on the international stage.
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Saints are the most successful team in Super League history, with 17 Super League titles, and the club attracts fans from all corners of the world to come to the industrial town on the edge of Merseyside. Formed in 1873, the Saints played their home games at Knowsley Road, outside the town centre, from 1890 until its demolition in 2010.
In January of this year, Michael "Bully Boy" Smith saw his name in lights after he won the PDC World Championship against Michael Van Gerwen. The win put St Helens at the centre of the darts world, with national media clambering to chat with Bully Boy and his friends and family.
Success like this doesn't come overnight, to reach the top of any sport takes years of hard work and dedication. For Michael, the journey to the top started in St Helens Darts Shop, as a teenager.
The shop's owner Karl Holden spoke of Bully Boy's dedication and raw talent. He told the ECHO: "I first met Mike when he was around the age of 14, at a junior darts tournament that I would've been running on the day. I spoke to him in depth about darts and he said 'I want to be the best player in the world'.
"Obviously he's done very well since that day. He used to come here regularly, we sponsored him for equipment and that sort of thing, and helped him get to venues when he couldn't drive. And obviously he's just got better and better- and when you're that good you don't need my help, or anyone else's help."
The town is bursting with pride over both Bully Boy's win, and the rugby title. Phil Hattersley said: "For a small town we don't half punch above our weight, proud to be from St Helens."
Martin Murray is another big name hailing from St Helens, the middleweight boxer retired in 2020 with an impressive record of 39 wins from 46 fights. Among these victories was a blockbuster fight for the WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title in Liverpool in April 2017.
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