OVER the next few days we will be publishing our interviews with the winners at this year's Pride of St Helens Award.
We have a 16-page supplement of the awards night complete with all images and the interviews for sale in shops across St Helens inside this week's St Helens Star, all costing just 80p.
The next award interview is that of Phil Glover, who won the Unsung Hero Award.
HUGE cheers could be heard around the room as Phil Glover was crowned the Unsung Hero.
It was a popular award for a highly-respected character who has devoted decades of his life to volunteering at Thatto Heath Crusaders community rugby league club.
And the dad, who was surrounded by his family afterwards, wore his heart on his sleeve as he discussed how the mentoring and guidance he offers to young people was influenced by the support he was given by his own rugby league club coaches when he was a youth.
Host Claire Simmo had outlined Phil’s nomination which described him as “one of the driving forces to launch the open age women’s team [at Thatto Heath]” and a man who “often a mentor, counsellor, and negotiator to anyone who needs him at the community rugby club”.
Phil, 47, said his role “was just to help people a little bit”.
He told the Star: “Thanks to all those who nominated me and thanks to the lads [from Thatto Heath under 14s] who have come along to support me here.
“And I also have to thank my missus and the kids for allowing me to be out of the house so much to spend time at the rugby club.
“A lot of this is about the people who did it for me [coaching and guidance] when I was young. I had a good upbringing but my family had pubs when I was younger and moved around a bit.
“In my formative years some of the people who put an arm around me and offered support were my rugby coaches.
“This role is more than coaching rugby, it is 100 per cent about people.”
Highly commended in this category was Julie Devine, who has been organising tea dances at St Helens Town Hall, for the past six years for older people, with the assistance of St Helens Council, her mum, and some trusted volunteers.
John Aspinall a much-loved figure at Clock Face Miners, who has been volunteering at the rugby league club for the past 40 years, was also highly commended.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here