A COUNCILLOR has thanked the Whitehaven Rugby team players for a kind act that will help fans at the start of this season.

The away day family bus is back on the cards thanks to the generosity of Jonty Gorley and his Whitehaven squad.

Young People's Champion at the Club, Carl Walmsley organised a coach for family's to travel to watch Whitehaven's league opener against league favourites Leigh Centurions for Whitehaven's opening match was in doubt due to an eleventh hour date change and expensive ticket prices to gain entry into the ground.

However, news got to the Haven Coach Jonty Gorley who decided with the squad they would have a 'whip round' to fund the trip.

Carl Walmsley said:" I cant thank these lads enough for there generosity I got a message of James Newton and a call off the gaffa 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 there own pockets to help me get the bus going and insure these family's can travel and make memories with out 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."