A trip to see Haven take on Leigh Centurions in the league opener this weekend for youngsters and families is back on, thanks to the generosity of players.
An 11th hour date change and a hike in ticket prices for the Leigh clash looked as though they had scuppered youngsters’ chances of going to an away match. The costs were too prohibitive and kept increasing.
But coach Jonty Gorley and his players have stumped up £200 to make sure it can go ahead.
Carl Walmsley, the club’s young people’s champion, said: “I’d booked a coach for families to travel to watch Whitehaven’s league opener and had it full with provisional bookings, but due to Leigh changing the game day and releasing real expensive match day tickets the numbers understandably dwindled.
“It put the trip in jeopardy but the news got to the Haven camp and coach Jonty and player James Newton discussed it with the squad and had a whip round to help with the costs.
“I can’t thank these lads enough for their generosity I got a message of James Newton and a call off the gaffer Jonty asking if I could pop up to the training session on Monday night when I got there I was given a £200 cash donation that the lads had chipped in out of their own pockets to help me get the bus going and ensure these families can travel and make memories without it costing a arm and a leg.
“The players love the young fans as much as the young fans love them and its a bond we have been building on qt the club to find the next generation of die hard Haven fans.
“We have a real talented squad again this year made up of some real good down to earth lads they are a credit to the club and I would like to say a public thank you to each and every single one if them and wish them a successful injury free season.
“We already had £120 in donations so we have a total of £320 so we are hoping to get all junior travellers free travel and entry as a thank you I’m sure they will be loud and proud and cheers there heroes on for the 80 minutes.”