St Helens have confirmed that the 2010 season will be their last at Knowsley Road ahead of the proposed move to the club's new home across town in 2011.

Saints, who have been at Knowsley Road for the past 120 years, are building a new 18,000 capacity stadium on the old United Glassworks site in St Helens.

But the new stadium may not be ready in time for the 2011 season kick-off.

"It looks like we may play a few games of the 2011 season on the road," said Saints chief executive Tony Colquitt.

"We have already had discussions with the RFL, who are fully supportive.

"It's been an incredibly complex process, accentuated by the wider economic climate.

"Whilst it's exciting times, we also acknowledge that it's only fitting that we celebrate 120 years at Knowsley Road.

The Boxing Day derby between Saints and Wigan is one of 'the' derbies in British sport St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus/CPS:NAME>

"The ground's history is interwoven with that of the town, its people and the game.

"We will announce a whole series of events early in the New Year that will allow all our fans to participate.

"The club has already launched a heritage shirt that reflects the first ever colours the club played in at Knowsley Road in 1890.

"But, we are moving in 2011, so 2010 will be our last season at Knowsley Road."

This announcement means that the traditional Boxing Day meeting with rivals Wigan later this month, which has survived Rugby League's switch to a summer sport as a friendly, will be the last at Knowsley Road on the customary date.

"The Boxing Day derby between Saints and Wigan first took place in 1905," said St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus. "And it has been a key date in the British sporting calendar as one of 'the' derbies in British sport."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version