ERNIE Rothery took his place in the Kells End for Whitehaven Rugby League Club's historic first game in 1948. In front of 9,000 fans in the torrential rain, Haven enjoyed a 5-0 victory against opponents Hull.

And remarkably, 68 years later with well over a thousand games - of many highlights and a few hammerings - under his belt, Ernie, 93, will be in the crowd cheering on his beloved Haven in the season curtain-raiser against the old enemy, Workington, on Saturday night.

"I absolutely love it," said Ernie, of Tomlin Avenue, Mirehouse. "I was at the first match and I've only missed a handful of home games since."

But his local allegiances could have been altogether different. Ernie is a Ellenborough lad and took to the terraces at Workington Town, under the great Gus Risman, following their formation in 1945.

However, after family circumstances brought him through to Whitehaven in 1947, his loyalty to his hometown club has never wavered since.

In the inaugural Hull game in 1948, Haven's only try at the Recre came from Joe Fearon - ironically, a fellow Elbra lad and a schoolmate of Ernie's.

"Joe was a great player - as was his brother Sam. We had some great crowds in those days too. There was 9,000 people there at the first game, and there would have been more if the weather had been better."

Over the years, Ernie's on-field highlights have been numerous. He ranks Billy Fisher, a 16-year veteran and club Hall of Famer, and Scottish international scrum-half Brian Shillinglaw, who signed in 1961 before going on to play for Wigan and Leeds, as the best he has seen.

Also among his favourite players to watch were Kiwi trio Leroy Joe, David Fatialofa and Aaron Lester, who had glittering careers at the Recre.

"They all shone in their own way. Those three improved the games of all those around them," recalls Ernie.

Among the highlights, there have been the disappointments. Ernie was in the crowd against Leeds at Odsal in 1957 when Nev Emery's side were only minutes away from a Challenge Cup Wembley final until Jeff Stevenson’s controversial drop goal shattered the dream. It finished 9-8.

And in more recent memory, he was at Widnes in 2004 to see a heartbroken Haven lose in extra-time to Leigh, denying them a much-coveted place in Super League.

"We should still be aiming for Super League; it would be great to see," said Ernie. He says, however, that he "could never imagine" a controversial and long-speculated merger with rivals Workington.

Away from rugby, Ernie is a family man. In 2003, he celebrated his diamond wedding with wife Ethel, whom he lost in 2010. He has three sons - Ernie, Mike [Haven's new travel coordinator, see page xx] and Brian - and speaks with pride of his seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A retired moulder who spent most of his working life at Chapel Bank, Ernie was once a popular performer on the local club scene as lead singer with Billy Iley and the Jazz Jesters, and could often be found on stage in the Labour Club, Calder Club and St Benedict's. And music runs in the Rothery family; Ernie claims he taught grandson Mark - a local musician himself who has been known to play Ernie's own harmonica - "everything he knows!"

Moving with the times, Ernie will pass through the turnstiles at the Recre on Saturday night for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy match with one of the club's newly-introduced photo-ID season tickets. 

Ernie admits being a little undecided about Haven's switch to Saturday night home games for this season. "It's debatable, but if it boosts crowds, then I'm all for it." But regardless of the day, time - or the weather - Ernie's dedication to his club remains as strong as ever. "I love it; it keeps me going!"