By Alan Irving

Published at 11:07, Thursday, 16 August 2012

PROMOTION winners Whitehaven have another fifty thousand reasons for looking ahead to next year’s major Championship challenge – that’s a £50,000 sponsorship from Nuclear Management Partners (NMP).

Supporting a worthy cause: Whitehaven had a fundraising day for Help For Heroes at their match against Gateshead on Sunday. The mayor of Copeland Peter Tyson, and mayoress Louise Tyson, lead the teams out with former soldier Carl Lewthwaite, cadets and members of the Royal British Legion carrying standards. More pictures from the fundraising are on page 47

Sellafield’s international consortium is again splashing the cash and it comes as the icing on the cake to Haven’s promotion feat.

With the club just out of administration, the latest NMP deal will enable it to plan ahead for life in what will be a highly competitive Championship alongside neighbours Workington Town and Barrow, who are battling with Doncaster to claim the £50,000 prize for finishing top of Championship One.

Haven chairman Ralph Calvin said he was delighted by NMP’s continued show of faith.

And in last Sunday’s promotion-clinching match, NMP gave valued support to Help For Heroes, giving £1 for every spectator who turned up – although the gate was a disappointing 733. Afterwards, the company boosted its contribution to £1,000.

A host of other fundraising events took place for Help For Heroes on Sunday, with the grand total raised still being calculated.

Chairman Calvin said the club would find it difficult to manage in the Championship without the continued nuclear funding.

Chief executive Barry Richardson said yesterday: “We’ve had this major sponsorship for about 12 years now; without it we wouldn’t be able to build the club the way we are. It’s also greatly appreciated the role they play in our own community development programme and how they help the local community generally.”

The renewed sponsorship will help Whitehaven find the resources to strengthen the squad in order to compete successfully in a higher class of competition which will carry with it the spectre of relegation.

Gary McKeating, NMP’s head of socio-economics, said the big hope was for Haven to move “onwards and upwards” adding: “It’s fantastic to see all three Cumbrian clubs promoted to the championship. We look forward to some blood and guts derby games like they used to be.

“It’s been a difficult couple of years for Whitehaven. As main sponsors we know what goes on behind the scenes but NMP are right behind them going into the Championship. We’re delighted to continue our sponsorship.

“Our American colleagues (URS) can’t understand what this RL’s all about – we tell them it’s our art, our theatre and our passion.”

Pride of five winners: Week 6: 1967 L Bawden Howgate; 3380 K Morris Red Lonning; 1925 B Lumley Loop Road; 1497 N Allen Woodhouse; 1853 A Charlton Hensingham. Week 7: 3173 M Borwick Seascale; 2525 T Graves Moresby; 2691 M Bucknell Egremont; 2087 D Amor St Bees; 297 J Kelly Moresby

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk