THREE unsung heroes from Warrington’s rugby league community are set to be immortalised at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Cllr Pauline Nelson, Phil Houghton and Dave Prince were all named as Heart and Soul Award winners during the 2018 Warrington Man of Steel Awards on Friday, November 23.

As part of their recognition, the trio will be heralded on footprints bearing their names in the concourse of the Halliwell Jones Stadium’s South Stand.

A former Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Nelson was a founder member of the Warrington Wolves Supporters Trust in 2002.

Described as an ‘enthusiastic and respected board member’, the trust has donated more than £200,000 to developing young rugby league players in Warrington over the past 17 years.

Also a Birchwood councillor and school governor, Cllr Nelson was instrumental in creating the role of rugby league development officer at Warrington Borough Council in 1998.

She has been actively involved in several Wire players’ testimonials in the past 12 years, including Lee Briers and Ben Westwood.

All of her work in rugby league has come alongside acting as the main carer for her disabled husband.

Phil has been a part of Culcheth Eagles for 28 years, holding positions including assistant coach, groundsman, secretary, treasurer and chairman.

Now honourary president, Phil helped to form the Eagles’ junior section in 1999 – a youth programme that now has 12 teams.

He has also been vital in bringing upgrades at the club’s home ground, including a floodlit training pitch and new dressing rooms.

Phil began playing rugby league in 1967 at the age of 15, for Culcheth Harrow Inn’s open age team.

He would go on to play for the Warrington B team, Lancashire U19s and Great Britain U19s – also progressing become a grade one senior referee, before he had to hang up his whistle prematurely due to a knee injury.

A ‘legend of the Wilderspool community’, Dave Prince first moved to Warrington in 1976 to take on the role of head teacher at Beamont Community Primary School.

Dave, who was unable to attend the ceremony, ensured the school took an ‘active role’ in the Millers Seven competition and visited Wembley with pupils in 1980, 1987 and 1998.

After retiring, Dave was asked to lead Warrington Wolves’ Wilderschool education programme and would eventually undertake matchday roles including announcements and timekeeping.

He also organised fundraising programme fairs and took up the post of referee’s assessor with the RFL.