A Wigan Warriors record holder has joined an exciting new coaching team with Cockermouth Titans.
Jeff Clare scored Wigan’s first four-point try against Salford in August 1983. Before then the try had only been worth three points.
Clare went on to play for Leeds, Salford and St Helens before hanging up his boots.
He is now a maths teacher at Workington Academy and has offered to help out at the Titans.
Dave Whitworth, the club vice-chairman said: “He’s a proper rugby league man who has impressed everyone and we are delighted to have him on board.
“Jeff has offered to take optional training sessions on a Friday to help out the lads who can’t make it earlier in the week. Jeff is now part of a four-man coaching team which I think makes it the strongest the club has ever had.”
Two players who are currently professionals at Workington Town and Whitehaven – Matty Henson and Liam McAvoy – are involved along with a former youth coach at the club Leam Wild.
McAvoy is actually following in the footsteps of his father who coached at Cockermouth.
He went through the Academy at Bradford Bulls before switching to Leeds Rhinos and as a senior played for Workington and Newcastle before joining Whitehaven.
Henson came through Cockermouth’s own Under-16s set-up before moving into the open age side and subsequently gaining honours with BARLA and the English Lions.
Playing National Conference at Egremont he turned pro at Town and is also following in his father’s footsteps by coaching at Cockermouth.
Wild is back involved at the club after a couple of years away following the birth of his daughter.
He had great success coaching the Under-16’s taking them right through to Under-18s and winning the Lancashire Plate.
Whitworth said: “The players had a meeting last week looking ahead and met the coaches. It has been agreed that training will start on January 16 at Cockermouth School.
“We had to finish last season three matches before the end but feel with one team we will have enough players to see us through comfortably this time.”
