Whitehaven Rugby League head coach Jonty Gorley has today announced his squad numbers for the upcoming 2022 Betfred Championship campaign . 

There’s been a number of changes in squad numbers for the upcoming campaign following a number of new faces joining the club for this season also following a number of departures and retirements. 
New signing Liam McAvoy replaces retired club captain Marc Shackley in the number 8 shirt following Shackley’s decision to retire on medical grounds at the end of 2021. Tom Walker takes the number 10 shirt following Kris Coward’s retirement and new signing from Australia Will Evans takes the number 4 shirt previously held by Jesse Joe Parker. 
There’s eight new faces in the 2022 squad but there still remains a number of the squad who made the play-offs last season following a remarkable run of form at the end of the league campaign. 

2022 Squad Numbers 

1 Geronimo Doyle2 Dave Eccleston3 Chris Taylor4 Will Evans5 Andrew Bulman6 Karl Dixon7 Nikau Williams8 Liam McAvoy9 Callum Phillips10 Tom Walker11 Ryan King12 Liam Cooper13 Dion Aiye14 James Newton15 Connor Holliday16 Tom Wilkinson17 Andrew Dawson18 Guy Graham19 Jake Moore20 Jake Bradley21 Kieran Hudson22 Josh Martin23 Alex Bishop30 Glenn Riley

Whitehaven Rugby League are delighted to announce the signing of Australian utility back Josh Martin having beat off competition in his native country and in the UK to secure his signature on a 12 month deal. 
Comfortable right across the back line Martin is going to offer Jonty

Gorley options in a number of positions ahead of the 2022 Betfred Championship campaign with our season opener under six weeks away.

 
Speaking about his signing head coach Gorley spoke saying “We were on the lookout for an outside back that could cover the back 5 . An agent from Australia, John Taulaga, got in touch with us regarding a young kid called Josh Martin. ………………………….., he’s athletic and his balance is good which makes him hard to tackle when he is carrying the ball, he looks great in the air, which is a positive attacking wise and defensively. When I spoke to Josh and his parents they were all really keen for him to come to us and enjoy the experience in the UK and hopefully he can forge a good career on the back of coming here. I really think Josh can be a surprise package for us and I can’t wait to see him play.”

Haven travel to Derwent Park on Jan 16

Whitehaven Rugby League FC have announced the first pre-season fixtures as the Ike Southward Memorial fixture returns following an enforced break in 2021. 

The fixture vs near neighbours Workington Town last took place at the LEL Arena back in 2020 in a dramatic fixture which saw Haven secure the victory thanks to a last minute Callum Phillips try to secure the trophy. 

The fixture will return to Derwent Park for 2022 on Sunday 16th January with a 2pm kick off and will be the first time Haven have played at Derwent Park since our 33-18 Good Friday victory in our League 1 championship season back in 2019. 

Today Whitehaven RLFC have announced their plans on how the club is to move forward.

The club have appointed Lauren Allan as a director of the clubs and she is the first female board member for quite some time. Lauren has been working with the club now for several months and brings with her skills and qualities that are currently lacking after this past couple of weeks. On her appointment Lauren had the following to say “I am excited to take up my new position on the board of directors after having a role in the club for the last nine months looking after their health and safety requirements and setting up the new Junior Fanclub. Whilst I will continue to carry out these roles, I will also be focusing on working with the many community groups and grassroots clubs in the area, involving them in what we do at the club and building on our family friendly ethos. I am a trained adult and youth mental health first aider and have already started working on initiatives to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, something I am extremely passionate about. I look forward to the challenge and thank the board of directors for inviting me to be a part of the journey as the club continues to grow and move forward.”

Alongside Lauren joining the Board, Amanda Hewer, the club’s former general manager, has joined in an advisory role and will assist the club in meeting its obligations in compliance with the RFL and other bodies. Amanda is well respected throughout the rugby league fraternity and the Board are delighted that she has offered to assist the club where she can. On this Amanda stated “After two and a half years away from the club I am really happy to be back helping. I am looking forward to working alongside the remaining directors, staff, players, volunteers and helping Lauren settle into her new role, it’s really good to see the Board having a female presence. I have already seen a lot of new and exciting things planned and I hope everyone can get behind us as we move this great club forward.

As part of the reorganisation, Andrew Canavan will be stepping down as a director of the club and will now take up the new role of Chief Executive Officer. Two further appointments have been made, Grant Taylor is joining the club as a non-Executive Officer and this role will see Grant oversee and advise on boardroom governance.

The club are also delighted to announce that club legend, Craig Calvert, is joining the club as an ambassador. The Board feel that Craig will be an invaluable asset at the club, and he will focus on working in the community. The LEL Arena also has a new Bar Manager, with Ingrid Eilbeck stepping into this vacant position.

Last but no means least, the club are hopeful of appointing a number of fans to work alongside the board in a liaison capacity. We feel this would assist the club in showing our supporters that we are trying to be as open and transparent as is possible.A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes by the Board recently to firstly identify how we intend on moving forward and secondly, ensuring that we recruit what we believe to be the right people to take us on that journey. Saying that, the club are still headhunting for further roles that have been identified during this process.The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank the Covid team, Coaching team, backroom staff, players, ground stafff and all other volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the club was ready for the return of spectators. We also wish to extend our personal thanks to all our loyal fans for their continuous support and we sincerely hope that they all get behind our new direction.

Fan Engagement experts seek thoughts of fans on how much clubs value them

Think Fan Engagement (TFE) have launched their first ever survey of Rugby League fans.

TFE is the publisher of the popular Fan Engagement Index for English football, which ranks clubs in the top four divisions of the game, and which is driving change in the relationship between clubs and fans in the game.

The Rugby League survey is aimed at fans of English and Welsh clubs in Super League, Championship and League One, and is looking to understand how fans of those clubs feel about how clubs and the governing bodies, engage with their fans, and consult on a range of issues including ‘rebranding’ and name changes.

Kevin Rye, Founder and Director of Think Fan Engagement, commented:

“Rugby League is an important sport in the country’s life, and has passionate followers who are dedicated to the sport and to their clubs. In the year of the Rugby League World Cup, I think it’s a good moment to start trying to understand more about the views of those fans – particularly on issues like rebranding and identity changes to clubs, and how much they feel listened to.

“It’s vitally important that the role of fans in sustaining their sport is better recognised, and better understood. I’m really excited at the launch of the survey, and I urge as many fans to take part as possible.”

The survey applies only to supporters of English and Welsh clubs competing in Super League, RFL Championship and RFL League One. We are undertaking this research independent of any company or organisation, including The RFL, Super League or any commercial partners.

NB: The survey is not seeking responses from fans of the two French clubs (Catalan Dragons and Toulouse Olympique) who play in Super League and Championship respectively. This is because research is currently confined to fans of English and Welsh clubs only.

You can take the survey below, or via tinyurl.com/RL-Fans-Survey

The Swinton Lions supporters trust was formed in 2002 after the club found itself in financial Problems . Since that time the Trust has supported the parent club in many ways and has a Trust director on the main club board . In recent times we have sponsored the clubs Tier 3 Academy Side rub in conjucntion with local FE College ,TRD Swinton Lions . In addition we have sponsored local amatuers Folly Lane RLFC and Bury Broncos

For the first game of the 2020 season as per most away games , a coach from the local pub the White Swan is bringing the usual rabble who will be stopping off the enjoy the lakes on the way. 

The recently “made it in the news! John “Spelly” Spellman will be gracing us all with his inimitable presence, you honestly can’t miss him.  So if anything may a play on that.  John has not missed a Lions game for now over 40 years and at the end of last season was presented with some montage framed photos of him through the ages.  He has been for as long as I am aware an active Trust Board member and is given the “official” title within the board as “Supporter Liaison”  Exactly what that means I’m not sure but he certainly brightens up the room when he arrives and will always make a point of shaking hands and sharing kisses (!!) to all in his presence.  Does that count as liaising.?

Overall I know that we are all including the squad and supporters are looking forward to getting the season going but we are also very aware that visiting Whitehaven in the extremities of the NW area is never easy.  Whilst we are fellow northerners the weather always just feels that bit more raw.  Lets hope it brings out the best from both teams and I have to say trust that the Lions can keep you at bay and obviously take the win no matter how pretty muddy it will get.
Good luck in all you do at the Trust (its no easy task) and all being well we may meet up on sunday and have a chat.  I’ll be around.  We may be guests on the team coach (as we do the kit for the team on away travel to the coach meet up) but may well drive up anyway and then bring it back again direct if we do so.
Extra layers needed this weekend.
See you Sunday
regards
Stephen
LionsTrust Chair

Head coach Gary Charlton has named a 21 man squad ahead of Sunday’s Ike Southward Memorial Fixture at the Recreation Ground. 
Dion Aiye, Jake Bradley, Andrew Bulman, Brett Carter, Kris Coward, Karl Dixon, Sam Forrester, Ellis Gillam, Ethan Kelly, Jake Moore, Jason Mossop, James Newton, Karl Olstrom, Brett Phillips, Callum Phillips, Glenn Riley, Marc Shackley, Chris Taylor, Dave Thompson, Tom Walker, Tom Wilkinson.

Missing from last weeks are Jessie Joe Parker, Jamie Thackeray and Connor Holliday There is a possibility for two debutants for Haven this weekend with Ex Wath Brow Hornet half Karl Dixon and ex Barrow and Town back Brett Carter named in the squad for the first time.

Also included for their first runs of the pre season are Kris Coward , James Newton, Jason Mossop and Karl Olstrom

The Haven home shirt for the new season has been relased : It features the clubs traditional Chocolate , Blue and Gold colours but not as you may have come to know it as the shirt dispenses with the traditional white base colour and go for a much darker base colour of Royal Blue which is remisincent of the clubs home kit from the early 60s which was Royal with a Gold band ! Certainly differant ! What Do you Think ? Could be popular !

Pictured wearing the shirt is club captain Marc Shackley at today’s RFL Media Day in Huddersfield. 

No information to hand as to pricing and avaiblilty

Heres your chance to do it ahead of next weeks Ike Southward Memorial game and all for a very good cause .

Avid Workington fan Helen McDowell is preparing to gag herself for 80 minutes as the two teams face off in a pre-season friendly for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy later this month , no mean feat for Helen , as she is renowned throughout rugby league for her vocal support of her beloved Workington Town.

But she says it will all be worth it as she is raising money for a cause close to her heart – the Teenage Cancer Trust, in memory of former Arlecdon junior and Carlisle and Keswick RU player James Addyman, but what many people don’t relaise is that James as part on the original Cumbria Storm RL Academy squad back in 2011/12 while playing for Frizington RLFC

Mrs McDowell has already raised more than £1,000 thanks to a Facebook fundraiser and other pledges, which she has been overwhelmed by.

SO some on Haven Fans lets shut Helen Up on Jan 19th Haven Independent Supporters Trust are inviting Haven fans to get behind this very worthy cause and donate to Helens fundraiser on facebook

Yo can donate online just Click Here