Kieron Cunningham is Voted Man of Bronze

The public have chosen Saints' legend Kieron Cunningham to be the subject of a new statue in honour of the champion rugby league club.
Saints’ legend Keiron Cunningham is the player the public of St.Helens have chosen to be the subject of a new statue in honour of the champion rugby league club.
At a special heroes’ homecoming reception at the Town Hall when the team won the Challenge Cup in August, St.Helens Council announced plans to commission a statue to celebrate the unprecedented success of the club.
So that as many people as possible could have a view on the statue the Council set up an on line vote on its web site and printed voting postcards. Within hours votes began to stream in and, as the closing date came just days ago, the total vote stood an an unprecedented 22,195.
Keiron polled a staggering total of 10138 pipping Tom van Vollenhoven at the post with 8820. Third was former Man of Steel Paul Wellens with 1501, followed by Alex Murphy on 1284, Alf Ellaby on 249 and Vinty Karalius on 203. Voters also suggested other greats such as Jimmy Stott, Paul Sculthorpe, Sean Long, Jon Wilkin, Geoff Pimblett, Chris Joynt and Mal Meninga to name but a few.
When voting opened the Council’s Press Office were inundated with requests for postcards from as far away as Scotland, Cornwall, Suffolk and Wales from former townsfolk and Saints’ fans eager to register their vote.
Some people liked the idea of a team tribute and that is something that may be progressed in future in some form at the proposed new stadium site.
Council Leader Brian Spencer said: "This is a marvellous response to our plans for the statue. This tribute is long overdue. The statue will be placed on one of the most prominent gateway sites into the Borough which will fittingly be near the site of the proposed new stadium.
"The club have been marvellous ambassadors for our Borough and we thought it was time we chose to honour the club for their sporting and community achievements over their long and prestigious history. I am very proud to be making this announcement in recognition of a world class sporting club which is such a vital part of our Borough’s past, present and future."
Saints’ Chairman, Eamonn McManus said: "The Club thanks the Council for this recognition and congratulates Kieron Cunningham, the true great of the modern era which has in turn been the most successful in the Saints' illustrious history. The Club separately will be looking to honour and pay tribute to others of its great players in the new stadium in an appropriate manner."
In 2001 the Council awarded the club Freedom of the Borough status following its record breaking sporting achievements.