Steve Prescott

Stephen Prescott (26 December 1973 – 9 November 2013) was a professional rugby league footballer who played as a during the 1990s and 2000s.

Steve Prescott was born in St Helens, Lancashire, England on 26 December 1973.

He attended De La Salle High School, and he was the son of the rugby league footballer; Eric Prescott.

Steve Prescott was introduced to sports from an early age, often playing both football and rugby league on the same weekend.

Prescott trialled with several football clubs before opting to focus on rugby league during his teens.

He was playing for local amateur side Nutgrove before signing for St Helens in 1992.

Although he was initially deemed too small to make the grade by St Helens, Prescott secured his future at the club with some impressive performances for the reserve team.

Prescott made his début for St Helens in 1993, and soon established himself as the club's first choice fullback.

He made his début for the first team in September 1993 against Leigh, and scored his first try later that year against Hull He made 15 appearances and kicked 29 goals during his début season, playing as a winger, or deputising for Dave Lyon at.

Although there were still concerns about his size, he established himself as the team's first-choice fullback during the 1994–95 season, with Lyon moving to the centres.

On 20 December 1994, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 50–22 victory over Batley in a Regal Trophy third-round replay.

A couple of days later, he was rewarded with a new four-year contract.

He was a near-ever present throughout the season, appearing 34 times and scoring 20 tries.

He made his senior international début in 1996, playing both games for England in their 1996 European Championship victory, and touring with Great Britain in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the same year, he also helped St Helens win the Championship (Super League I) and Challenge Cup for the first time in two decades.

Steve Prescott played in St. Helens' 16-25 defeat by Wigan in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1995–96 at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.

Prescott won his first silverware during the inaugural Super League season in 1996, scoring four tries against the Sheffield Eagles in the penultimate game of the season as the club went on to secure its first league championship since 1975.

He also played for St. Helens at in the 1996 Challenge Cup Final, scoring two tries in the first seventeen minutes and helping his team to a 40–32 victory against Bradford Bulls.

At the start of the following season, Prescott, who was reportedly one of the lowest-paid first team players at the club, was transfer listed at his own request after failing to negotiate an improved contract with the club.

He went on to win a second consecutive Challenge Cup with the club in 1997, but was sold to Hull Sharks at the end of the season.

He remained in the first team however, and was part of the side that won the 1997 Challenge Cup, once again defeating Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup Final.

The rest of Prescott's season was interrupted by a number of injuries, and on 25 July 1997 he played what would be his last game for the club in a 70–6 defeat against World Club Challenge opponents Auckland Warriors.

In November 1997, he was signed by newly promoted Hull Sharks, along with Alan Hunte and Simon Booth, for a combined transfer fee of £350,000.

In his 117 games for the club, he scored 52 tries and kicked 66 goals.

In February 1998, Prescott made his début for Hull F.C. in the Challenge Cup against Whitehaven, and scored his first try for the club in the next round against Ellenborough Rangers.

In April 1998, he scored two tries against the Sheffield Eagles in his first Super League match for the club, and became the club's regular goal-kicker later that year.

In 1999's Super League IV, Prescott missed two months of the season through injury due to a dislocated elbow.

With Hull F.C. struggling near the bottom of the table, and the club being unable to afford his wages, Prescott confirmed he was likely to leave when his contract expired in the winter.

After spending two years at Hull, Prescott joined Wakefield Trinity in 2000, but rejoined Hull a year later after being released by Wakefield Trinity due to the club's financial difficulties.

He changed his international allegiance to Ireland, who he represented at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

Prescott signed for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in 2000, scoring 3 tries in 25 games, but his contract was terminated after one season to ease the club's financial problems.

He subsequently rejoined Hull.

In April 2001, Prescott was one of 12 former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats players to take the club to an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal, and was awarded compensation after the club was found to be in breach of contract.

He also made one appearance for Lancashire in 2003, but suffered a serious knee injury while playing for the team, which ultimately ended his playing career.

In 2006, Prescott was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer and was given months to live.

He set up the Steve Prescott Foundation in 2007, and went on to organise a series of money-raising initiatives.

He raised almost half a million pounds for charity through the foundation, and was awarded an MBE in 2009 for his efforts.

After a long battle with the disease, he died in 2013, aged 39.

A year later, the Rugby Football League renamed the Man of Steel Award in Prescott's honour.

Hull F.C. won their last match for the season against the Sheffield Eagles, with Prescott kicking 6-goals, and finished in 13th place – one position above bottom club Huddersfield Giants due to a superior goal difference.