Cycling superstar Bradley Wiggins capped a remarkable year with his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Now the down-to-earth Eccleston dad-of-two has announced that everyone will be able to see the famous trophy, as he plans to put it behind the bar of his locals - the Original Farmers Arms in Towngate and the Farmers Arms, in nearby Heskin.
The landlord of the Original Farmers Arms, Barry Newton, hosted a “riotous” night at his pub as locals gathered to watch Wiggins win the award and he welcomed the news that his establishment is set to have a new attraction behind the bar.
He said: “It would be fantastic to have it here. It’s a really nice gesture.
“It would take pride of place.
“I was worried when I first saw the size of the award but there are a few places where we can put it.”
Wiggins is a regular at the pub, where he enjoys a drink and meal with his wife Cath and their two children Ben and Isabella.
Mr Newton says the four-time Olympic champion enjoys the kitchen’s fish dishes and mainly has soft drinks from the bar.
The locals enjoyed toasting his success on Sunday night.
“There was a lot of us in watching, about two or three dozen,” Newton said.
“The atmosphere was riotous. We were all voting for him. When he won it we all jumped in the air. We are dead proud of him.”
A mile down the main road through the village, Ann Rothwell, landlady of the Farmers Arms, said: “We had about 20 in. They all cheered when he won. It was exciting,” she said.
“We were all voting for him. It was quite an emotional night.
“We don’t know when he’ll be in, but we would be absolutely thrilled to have the trophy behind the bar. We would be honoured.”
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