Players Association Dinner for 2025!

This years Players Association Dinner took place on Sunday the 6th of July, with three past players entering the Hall of Fame!

Our Past Players Association each year holds an annual dinner to induct ex-players into the Hall of Fame, celebrate the success of the Saints over the years, along with some of our past players telling some great tales and stories from over the years!

Tom Barton

The first inductee to the Hall of Fame for 2025 was Saint Number #130 Tom Barton. Tom Barton was a stalwart for the club playing over 200 matches mostly as a winger and full back, being a versatile player across the back line for the Saints across his spell at the club. Barton was a superstar of his time, playing anywhere in the backs utilising his power and skill to ‘run through’ opponents. He was a great general for the Saints, possessed a fantastic kicking game and was renowned as a demon tackler.

Tom represented the Club in the War Emergency League during the First World War, where he continued to score numerous tries and goals. However, these wartime matches are not included in official statistics. As a result, the conflict denied Tom the distinction of being the first Saints player to achieve both 100 tries and 100 goals for the Club—a milestone that would ultimately be reached by Len Killeen nearly fifty years later.

Tom passed away aged 75 in March 1958, to collect the plaque in his honour was his team mate’s Jimmy Flanagan, also named Jimmy Flanagan, grandson receiving the award on behalf of the Barton family.

Sonny Nickle

The second inductee to the Hall of Fame for 2025 was Saint Number #1030 Sonny Nickle! One of the most popular players to ever don the Red-Vee at Knowsley Road, Sonny joined the club in 1991 from Sheffield Eagles for a fee of £80,000. Featuring 232 times for the Saints across three spells with the club, Sonny scored 49 tries, along with featuring in the 1992/93 Premiership Trophy, 1999 & 2000 Super League Grand Final, along with the 2001 World Club Challenge and 2001 Challenge Cup winning sides, and being a member of the squad in 2002 when the Saints won the Challenge Cup & Grand Final.

Sonny swiftly established himself as a crowd favourite, renowned for his entertaining style of play. Early in his tenure with St. Helens, he secured the No.12 second-row position through a succession of commanding performances, during which he frequently appeared unstoppable.

Unfortunately, Sonny Nickle wasn’t able to attend the dinner, but fellow Hall of Famer, team-mate & Saints legend #1042 Tommy Martyn received the plaque on behalf of Sonny.

Jon Wilkin

Our third inductee for 2025 in to the Hall of Fame was Saint number #1127 Jon Wilkin. Jon joined the Saints ahead of the 2003 Season, quickly cementing his place in the Saints team by 2004 as a regular. Jon, often referred to as Wilko, featured 424 times for the Saints, scoring 94 tries and slotting over 2 drop-goals across a 16 year spell at the club. During his time at the club, Wilko featured in the winning sides of the 2004 Challenge Cup, 2006 Challenge Cup, League Leaders & Grand Final,  the 2007 World Club Challenge, the 2007 & 2008 Challenge Cup wins, along with the 2014 & 2018 League Leaders successes. Jon also featured heavily in the 2014 Grand Final triumph over Wigan, unfortunately missing out due to injury.

Jon joined the Saints as a backrower, featuring mainly for the Saints their in his first few seasons, before deputising in the 13 position frequently for the Saints. Wilko noticeably scored a double for the Saints in the 2006 Challenge Cup Final, whilst playing with a broken nose bandaged up nose, an infamous image within Rugby League. Jon also featured for the Saints at half-back during the clubs injury issues in the later stages of his career, being a real leader in the 2014 season guiding the side to Old Trafford.

After the retirement of Paul Wellens, Jon was named club captain for the 2015, 16 & 17 seasons, leading the Saints from mainly 13, along with more stints at half-back.  Jon was in attendance and was welcomed on stage by fellow Hall of Famers Saint #1087 & Head Coach Paul Wellens & Saint #1117 Ade Gardner who presented Jon with his plaque!

Special Presentation to Harry Pinner

In between inductees to the Hall of Fame, a special presentation was made to Saint #912 Harry Pinner. A member of the triumphant 1984-85 Premiership Trophy winning side, Harry received an award as captain of the side to mark the 40th anniversary of the Saints defeating Hull KR, and was given the award by Saint #1291 George Whitby who was in attendance.

A massive congratulations to our recent inductees, and a massive thank you to all our past and current players who attended the event for what is always a great day in the calendar!