Stephen Prescott – The Life and Career of a Fighter

When Stephen Prescott signed with the St. Helens Rugby League as a young player, it was thought he was too small to have a successful career. Yet he battled his way from the Reserves to become a winger on the Fist Team and eventually excelled as a full-back, one of the most crucial attack positions on the team. Prescott signed professionally with the St. Helen Saints in 1992, and went on to become one of the club’s strongest players. Throughout his career with the Saints and later the Hull team, Prescott’s no-nonsense determination earned him respect with fans and other team-members alike.

Stephen Prescott took a similar attitude to his unexpected cancer diagnosis at the age of 32. Many might have fallen into depression facing terminal illness at such a young age, but Prescott responded by founding the Steve Prescott Foundation as a way to help others faced with the same condition. Since Prescott’s untimely death in 2013, the foundation has continued to raise money thanks to countless donations from many, including the charity’s main sponsor, SolarKing.  

Early Years

Stephen Prescott was born with considerable athletic talent. His father, Eric Prescott, also played rugby professionally with the St. Helens League, amongst other teams. As a teenager, the young Prescott played both football and rugby, sometimes splitting his weekends between matches for both sports. However, it was his fiercely competitive spirit that allowed him to fight his way to the top of Britain’s toughest sport, rather than any direct physical prowess. Prescott welcomed challenge with open arms and turned any set-backs into initiative to work harder.


Embed This Graphic On Your Site: <img src=" https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8c/a6/4e/8ca64ea6e83e59975347208dbb8e44ae.jpg" width='540'><br /><a href=' http://solarkinguk.blogspot.com/2016/10/stephen-prescott-life-and-career-of.html’><br /></a></p> <br /> <p> The Steve Prescott Foundation [Infographic]</a></p> <br /> <p> </a>

Professional Career

Like any professional athlete, Prescott faced ups and downs over the course of his career. The 1996 season with the St. Helen Saints marked Prescott’s international debut and was a tremendous success overall. Prescott’s brilliant strategy at the Wembley Challenge Cup final helped the Saints earn the winning title for the first time in 20 years. Unfortunately, 1997 did not go as well as the previous year. Prescott suffered an injury and was transferred to the Hull Sharks at the end of the season.

Prescott took the change in his stride and went on to achieve similar success at his new home. By the end of the first season he’d become an audience favourite in Hull, as well as the teams go-to goal-kicker. Prescott was transferred several more times due to the league’s financial difficulties but ended up finishing his career with the Hull team. An injury forced his retirement in 2003.



Teaching and Beyond

Even though his professional career had finished, Prescott stayed in Hull to teach and coach the Rugby team at the local community college. Ever the sportsman, he joined the Hull Ionians Rugby Union Club and continued to enjoy playing the sport he loved, as an amateur. He was able to spend more time with his wife Linzi and his first son, Taylor. However, just after the birth of his second son, Koby, Prescott’s life was again disrupted, this time by a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Learn more about Prescott’s illness and philanthropic work in the next post.