Two former Whitehaven players have died, prompting tributes from club officials and supporters, particularly those who saw them play in the 1960s.
Les Moore and Frank Moss were both forwards who had started their careers playing rugby union.
Frank, who was 88, was Maryport-born and learnt his rugby as a pupil at Cockermouth Grammar School before switching to league.
Like his brother Malcolm, who played for Workington Town, Frank was a hooker and was playing for Broughton Moor when he was signed by Whitehaven in January 1961.
He made his debut in a 5-9 defeat at Blackpool within days of signing and went on to play 53 games for Haven, scoring five tries.
His final game for the club was a 31-2 defeat at Derwent Park, Workington in April 1965.
After retiring from the game he became a keen golfer and over the years was captain of Maryport Golf Club and served as president of the county.
He had started at the steelworks after leaving school and was there until retirement, working as a metallurgist with his final position as manager of the test house.
Les came from a farming family and in later years him and his wife Jean ran the Boonwood Inn near Gosforth before spending 24 years as owner of Gosforth post office. He died last Saturday at the age of 83.
He had started in Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, looking a fine prospect but when he was introduced to rugby union at the Egremont club his sporting future changed.
He represented Cumberland and as a big powerful forward was a natural for Haven to sign and they did so ahead of the 1961/62 season. He made his debut on September 9 1961 when Haven beat York 20-10.
He went on to play 171 times for the club over seven seasons scoring 15 tries and 8 goals and also played eight times for the Cumberland county side between 1963 and 1971 including a memorable victory over the touring Australian team in 1967.
Another memorable game was for Whitehaven in a 12-7 win over the New Zealand RL touring side in October 1965.
Sitting bottom of a 30-strong RL Championship, Whitehaven rose to the occasion, led by an inspired Les and came out on top against a virtual test strength Kiwi side on a memorable day for the club.
Les played for Whitehaven at a time when key players had to be sold to survive, and he was transferred to neighbours Workington Town in 1968. He went on to play a total of 83 games for Town scoring 12 tries and 61 goals.
Although he was listed at £3,000, Whitehaven took three players instead from Town – the legendary Ike Southward, pack stalwart Bill Martin and Mike Gracey, a Kells amateur who hadn’t made the Workington first team.
Once retired, Les switched to his other favoured sport – cricket where he was a big-hitting batsman for the Gosforth village side.
Funeral details of both ex-players will follow when dates have been arranged.
