Gary Charlton has been speaking about Swinton ahead of the Championship Opening clash on Sunday , Charlton said: “They aren’t the biggest team but they are very mobile and like to throw the ball about. It’s going to be an interesting opening game,”

Swinton Lions have an arrangement with Super League side Salford, over dual registration and the new reserve grade competition and their squad will not be very familiar with Haven fans though one name they will recognise will be Richard Lepori who played for the club in 2013 before leaving to join Rochdale .

On Sundays game and the season ahead Gary Charlton had this to say “It’s imperative that we win our home games and the coaching staff and players are all aware of that.

“We want to get off to the best possible start and send out a message when we start against Swinton on Sunday. “I’m confident that whatever 13 we start with, they’ll go out there and give their best for the club.

“It hasn’t been easy selecting a starting line-up for the first game, but that’s not a problem we mind”

Gary Charlton’s 21 man squad for Round 1 fixtures vs Swinton Lions is as follows : Dion Aiye, Jake Bradley, Andrew Bulman, Kris Coward, Karl Dixon, Sam Dowsett,  Sam Forrester, Ellis Gillam, Ethan Kelly, Jake Moore, Jason Mossop, James Newton, Jessie Joe Parker, Brett Phillips, Callum Phillips, Marc Shackley, Chris Taylor, Jamie Thackray,Dave Thompson,Tom Walker, Tom Wilkinson

Swintons 21 man squad is ; Gavin Bennion ,William Brickhill,Louis Brogan, Mike Butt, Mitchell Cox, Rob Fairclough ,Sam Grant,Ryan Gray,Frankie Halton ,Jack Hansen,Lewis Hatton,William Hope,Patrick Jones,Jose Kenga,Richard Lepori Rhodri Lloyd Dean Meadows ,Ben Morris ,Oscar Thomas,Luke Waterworth,Brandon Wood

Haven will be looking for much better performance than the last two weeks when they complete their pre-season programme tomorrow (Saturday) ko 2pm.

Coach Gary Charlton had been hoping for a big step up against Workington Town on Sunday after a disappointing defeat at Newcastle Thunder a week earlier.

Charlton said: “It was a win, and it’s nice to regain the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy, but I wanted to see a bit more than what I saw. There was an improvement on the Newcastle performance but we wanted more, so will be looking for a convincing display against the Crusaders.”

Haven used 19 members of their 25-strong squad but injuries to Glenn Riley (displaced knee-cap) and Brett Carter (hamstring) mean that they won’t be involved on Saturday and will be sidelined for three weeks .

Haven will go with a 21 man squad as follows

Dion Aiye, Jake Bradley, Andrew Bulman, Kris Coward, Karl Dixon, Sam Dowsett, Sam Forrester, Ellis Gillam, Ethan Kelly, Jake Moore, Jason Mossop, James Newton, Jessie Joe Parker, Brett Phillips, Callum Phillips, Marc Shackley, Chris Taylor, Jamie Thackray, Dave Thompson, Tom Walker, Tom Wilkinson
Admission prices Adults £17 (£13 before 12pm)Concessions £13Under 16’s £5 (free with an accompanying adult) 

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

With the 2020 Season about to start Haven have boosted their squad with the signing of 27 year old back row forward Karl Olstrom

He returns to the club for a second stint having also had two different spells with local rivals Workington Town. Olstrom had joined Haven for the first time at the start of the 2017 season but he was released in April 2018 and a few weeks later re-joined Workington Town.

Haven coach Gary Charlton is delighted to have Olstrom back under his wing at the Recreation Ground and is looking forward to a big contribution for him in the months ahead.

“There were a couple of minor issues with Karl when I had him as a player when I was coach at Workington Town,” he said.

“But they were nothing that affected his performance for us.

“He’s a very talented forward, well capable of playing in the Championship and I am sure he’s going to have an important role in our efforts to meet the challenge posed by the higher level.

“Karl hasn’t trained with us as yet but I have no doubts about his fitness and readiness for the new season because he’s always kept himself fit and he will actually be going to Newcastle with us on Saturday.”

Two of whitehavens’ home games have been selected to be shown on the RFLs’ Our League app.

Round Three – Oldham (H) – Sunday 16th February 18:15 Our League Game Please note change in Kick Off Time

Round  Nine – Leigh Centurions (H) – Monday 13th April 15:00  Our League

Our League available

PC/Tablet https://membership.rugby-league.com/

Google Play Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.incrowdsports.rugby.rfl&hl=en_GB

Apple Store https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/our-league/id1292250629

Have a Happy, Safe and prosperous New Year.

From Whitehaven Independant Supporters Trust.

Seasons Greetings From Whitehaven Independent Supporters Trust

The new team replica away shirt for the 2020 Betfred Championship season Now available Order yours at the club or on the stall.