Fans of Whitehaven RLFC have kept on supporting the club during a time of financial hardship and uncertainty with their latest round of fundraising.

Volunteers Shaun Drinkwater and Simon Taylor have raised £2,200 for the club with two raffles, aiming to support the side financially while play is suspended during the pandemic.

Shaun said: “There’s no rugby at the minute, there are still bills to pay but there’s no money coming in. So we decided we would do some fundraising.”

As well as raising funds for the club, Shaun and Simon organise away-day travel for fans of Haven.

Shaun praised the fans for supporting the future of the club as 302 tickets were sold for the second raffle.

“It’s the same people you see all the time – when you ask them they come forward.

“The fans are buying into it, it’s been great. I was hoping for £200 and we excelled that – we didn’t expect anything less. Whitehaven fans love their club.

“We have been delighted with the support we’ve had.”

The second of two raffles will be drawn on Sunday and the fundraisers are looking to hold a third – “we will be going again next Sunday,” said Shaun.

He also organises The 300 Club, raising £3,000 for the side this season alone. Prizes included sponsors lounge tickets for the next game and a rugby ball signed by RL Hall of Famer Wally Lewis.

First prize in the latest draw was a season ticket for when play resumes, donated by the club.

The fundraising was aimed at supporting the club at a pivotal time as Championship and League One clubs are poised to vote on the resumption of play. Heavy costs are expected to test players for Covid-19 and run training sessions. Play could potentially take place behind closed doors, removing vital match day income.

The Whitehaven RL Vice Presidents group have launched their own fundraising campaign to support the club. Fans are being given the chance to be pictured on a board in the stands when play resumes. The lucky winner will receive the board as a memento at the end of the 2020/2021 season.