Saint Helens Stars Celebrate National Care Home Open Day at Haydock Court

St Helens rugby league legends Paul Sculthorpe and Eddie Cunningham will officially open a St Helens RFC reminiscence area in Haydock Court, a specialist dementia care home, on Friday. This visit is part of National Care Home Open Day, a campaign to encourage the community to interact with and support care homes.

Haydock Court is part of the national social care charity, Community Integrated Care. It is adjoined to Eccleston Court Care Home, near Eccleston Park in St Helens.

The two Saints stars will officially open a local rugby area in the home, which contains nostalgic photographs and memorabilia that will promote the treasured memories of St Helens fans living there. This area applies leading dementia design approaches that have been pioneered by Community Integrated Care.

The charity was supported to develop this area by Saints Heritage Society, who generously donated historic photographs to the home from their archives.

The rugby legends will be visiting the home at 12.30-1.30pm, meeting colleagues, people supported by the charity and families.

National Care Home Open Day is a national campaign to encourage communities to build relationships with their local care homes and raise the profile of older people’s care.

Paul Sculthorpe played 247 games for St Helens, during an acclaimed career that saw him also represent Great Britain. He won a total of four Grand Finals, three Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges, and also became the only player to win the Man of Steel Award on two consecutive occasions.

Eddie Cunningham had a highly successful rugby league career from 1969-1985, playing for Wigan, Saint Helens, Leeds and Widnes. He represented Wales and Great Britain, won the Challenge Cup and collected the famous Lance Todd for his Man of the Match performance in the 1981 Challenge Cup.

John Hughes, Head of Communications and Marketing for Community Integrated Care, says: “We are delighted that Paul and Eddie, two true St Helens rugby league legends, will be visiting Haydock Court on Friday to officially open this reminiscence area. Many people we support have treasured memories of watching Saints, and this space will help bring them to life. It is an honour that Paul and Eddie are giving their time to visit our home, celebrating National Care Home Open Day and helping to launch this special new area.”