By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 09:39, Thursday, 26 November 2009

WHITEHAVEN’S main backers Nuclear Management Partners are to continue their major sponsorship of the club in 2010.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

The value of the generous financial commitment has not been revealed, but NMP last season sponsored the club to the tune of £45,000.

Haven consider the continuing commitment is timely, as the club plan for an exciting season on the field, with a string of new signings already on board and more potentially on the way, while major changes are under way to improve facilities and financial stability.

Chairman Dick Raaz said: “I am delighted that our friends at NMP have decided to continue our partnership.

“Everyone at the club is encouraged by their commitment as our main sponsors and I know that our players will wear their shirts bearing the NMP logo proudly throughout another successful season in 2010.”

The NMP consortium includes the Washington Division of the massive American URS Corporation, which was Haven’s biggest backer for eight years. Washington pledged a £42,000 package to the club in 2008.

NMP general manager Graham Campbell said: “NMP are very happy to agree support for Haven as main club sponsors and look forward to another entertaining and exciting year on the pitch.

“NMP, as new owners and operators of Sellafield Ltd, have pledged to support the local community to help in the regeneration of West Cumbria. Like the club, we hope this year is a turning point off the field as well as on.”

The sponsorship is the latest piece of good news on the financial front for Haven, who are looking to recover from a couple of years of heavy operating losses.

Membership of the Pride of Five lottery is up 25 per cent on 12 months ago and another revamp is planned for the New Year. While the club’s sponsorship income has doubled over the past year.

The club have now unveiled a fresh season-ticket initiative for Christmas, following a well-received initial offer in October. If fans pay a deposit before December 31, they will make a saving of up to £20.

“We had a good response to the first offer and sold 160 tickets, as many as we did all last year,” said general manager Nigel Beaty.

“The supporters who took up that offer have saved already and can save even more if they get their friends to join up and we reach the 500 mark.”

Beaty and club officials Paul Goodwin and Bernadette Amor were at Headingley last week for a two-day visit as guests of Leeds Rhinos.

“There are some excellent people at Leeds, and you can see why they are one of the best-run clubs,” Beaty said.

“They were extremely helpful and we came back with lots of ideas to assist us in the future.”

The Haven officials looked at the Rhinos’ commercial, marketing and finance departments.

Former Halifax playmaker Mick Govin signed a one-year deal last Thursday.

Govin scored a scintillating try in last month’s Championship Grand Final defeat against Barrow and was named Fax’s man-of-the-match by the Rugby League Express.

But he was later released after the ambitious Yorkshire outfit signed former Australian Schoolboy international Luke Branighan.

And that enabled Haven boss Ged Stokes, who had already been tracking the 25-year-old, to make his move.

“He can be very, very good for us,” said Stokes. “He’s very tough and really fits the type of player we want.

“I heard a while ago he was not in Halifax’s plans and gave him a bell, just for a general chat, to see how he felt. It grew from that.”

Stokes would happily have signed Leigh-based Govin on a two-year deal but the player preferred a one-season contract.

In addition to both half-back roles, Govin is comfortable at hooker and loose-forward.

Haven are to host Oldham in a New Year friendly in aid of long-serving Howard Hill’s testimonial fund.

The Roughyeds will visit the Recre on Sunday, January 10, for a 3pm kick-off, subject to RFL approval. And there will be a trophy on the line, with the old Seat Cup revived.

“It’s great that we are playing a friendly against a club from the town where Howard turned professional,” said Des Byrne, ex-Haven chairman and an organiser of Hill’s testimonial campaign.

“Ged Stokes is happy with it, and I’d like to thank Whitehaven for allowing us to use the Recreation Ground. They have been fully supportive of Howard’s testimonial.”

The Seat Cup, sponsored by B&H Motors and David Cook of Oldham, was inaugurated by the two clubs in 2003, with a plan to play an annual pre-season friendly. But the idea soon fell by the wayside. Haven are the current holders.

Hill’s special testimonial 2010 calendar, featuring Haven team-mates, is now available at Unique Sports, Strandz 9, B&H Motors, Barwise’s Chippy, Sproat’s Newsagents and fish and chip shop, of Cleator Moor.

Last week’s Pride of Five £100 winners were: K Horne, Prospect Row, Cleator, with ticket number 662; G Agnew, Muncaster Road, Whitehaven, 381; J Roddis, Snaefell Terrace, Whitehaven, 1,172; R Elliot, Hinnings Road, Distington, 1,777; M Walker, Frizington Road, Cleator Moor, 2,247.

First published at 15:37, Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk