Nursery surprised as players stop by
WIGAN Warriors star players Micky McIlorum and Willie Isa took the Super League trophy they won at Old Trafford in October to a Widnes nursery.
The pair took a break from pre-season training to surprise staff and children at Daisy Maisies Chapelfield, owned by ExWidnes and Wigan prop Terry O’Connor and his wife Jane.
The nursery is in a former community centre on Wilsden Road in Hough Green and is the second to be opened by the couple in the town.
Its opening followed a major refurbishment and was backed by a £75,000 grant from the Merseyside Jobs And Growth Fund.
Rugby stars Micky and Willie surprised another Daisy Maisies staff member by taking the trophy to see Laura Bonney, Wigan fan and manager of sister site Daisy Maisies Appleton, who was stunned to see two of her favourite players.
Laura has been with the ● company since its launch in 2012 and is now nursery manager.
Daisy Maisies Appleton opened four years ago in the converted former Appleton Arms pub, which had been owned by ex-Widnes and Wigan forward Ste O’Neill.
Terry, a Sky Sports pundit, made 317 appearances for Wigan between 1994 and 2005 and was a member of the team which won the inaugural Grand Final back in 1998 versus Leeds.
Liverpool firm DK architects designed the layout in collaboration with Jane and manager Helen Knox.
Helen has been with Daisy Maisies since 2012 and has been promoted to executive manager.
Terry said: “It was nice of Willie and Micky to bring the silverware down to my wife’s new nursery.
“Not many players have ● the chance to see the trophy up close let alone the children and staff in a nursery.
“We’ve got a great centre here and the staff are tremendous.
“I keep out of the way and let my wife do all the hard work along with her committed staff.
“If I had to work in the nursery the kids would run rings around me!”
Helen said: “I was excited and pleased with the expansion of our second nursery and I am confident that Chapelfield will be as successful as the Appleton nursery. We would like to thank all the new staff who have helped us make an excellent start and hope that they stay with the company for many years to come.”
Discussing the Chapelfield makeover, Terry said: “When we got the keys to the former Chapelfield community centre we wanted to strip it out completely and start afresh.
“Everything inside and out is new.
“The only thing left remaining from the old centre is the external walls.”