‘PLAN B’ SHOWS HUBY THE WAY
Former Wakefield, Castleford and Huddersfield star on life after playing
HAVING been forced into early retirement due to injury and then started a new business in the middle of coronavirus, former Wakefield Trinity prop Craig Huby could be forgiven for feeling he needs a change of luck.
Rather, though, the erstwhile front-row believes the pandemic has helped give him a new outlook on life that has left him even more positive about the future.
He opened a cafe in Castleford town centre last week, having earlier completed a catering course to become a chef.
Clearly, government guidelines means Huby, who eventually had to finish playing after suffering a serious shoulder injury with Trinity in February last year, can only provide takeaway services.
That is one of the obstacles he faces and, on the prospect of opening a new business during the Covid-19 outbreak, the former Castleford Tigers star conceded: “It is pretty scary, to be fair.
“We’ve obviously got to a stage where we can start bringing a bit of money back in but last week was our first week and it was pretty quiet. We expected that but we’re hopeful things will pick up once people know it’s here.
“We’ve had positive comments from people who have already had food off of us so we’re hoping lockdown gets lifted even more so people can come and sit down here with us obviously taking all the correct measures.”
Huby explained how the family-run Plan Bee, which serves hot and cold food, prep meals and outside catering, proved crucial to remind him what is important.
“I had a couple of months off not doing anything when I retired,” recalled the Yorkshireman, who made almost 300 career appearances, including the 2014 Challenge Cup final with home-town Castleford and two seasons at Huddersfield Giants.
“Then I got a job at a high school in Knottingley, working part-time in their kitchen.
“I also started doing prep meals when I first retired, just for something to do and just for family and friends. But it took off.
“I was getting busier and busier so eventually started doing that properly, working part-time as well and then we also took over the food at my local rugby club Lock Lane. So, on Saturdays and Sundays, we were feeding all the kids, families and guests.
“I was working a lot and with the kids and wife it wasn’t ideal.
“You have to do everything you can to earn a living.
“Obviously then, this lockdown made us realise what we’d been doing was too much; we’d been working seven days a week, were always out of the house and not spending enough time with the kids.
“This (Plan Bee) was something we had in the back of our heads that we wanted to do.
“It was just by chance and a conversation with a friend that this happened. The woman who we eventually leased the premises off said she was shutting down and within a day we were in and started ripping everything out.
“It all happened pretty quick. If we hadn’t stopped what we were doing and had some time at home by ourselves, we’d have probably been doing the same amount of work as we were before. That affects family life after a while so it’s definitely been a positive step.”
Anyone who spends time in Xscape leisure complex in Castleford will often spot rugby league players from West Yorkshire clubs sat there enjoying a coffee.
Does Huby, 34, hope to see some of those now reconvene instead at his new shop?
He said: “Potentially, yes. I’d not really thought about it but I put a thing on Twitter the other day and saw (Castleford centre) Pete Mata’utia put straight away ‘new coffee spot’. Actually, it’s a great shout. It’s just a nice, friendly cafe and, hopefully, we’ll be getting WiFi in soon to attract more people in to get a decent coffee.
“It (players meeting for coffee) is pretty big especially even when I was playing. We used to travel from Featherstone to Wakefield and you’d have an hour or so before the next session.
“We’d always stop at a garden centre on the way to have a coffee and a bit of down time. There’d be 15 or 20 of us and that’s what people do nowadays to relax isn’t it?”
Meanwhile, Huby – who debuted for Castleford aged 16 – insists he is not missing the sport he loves. He said: “At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d be as I’ve gone straight into something that obviously I’m passionate about again.
“I’ve not really thought about it and the times I have and gone for a run I’ve realised why I’m happy not playing any more especially during lockdown!
“The other morning I saw (former Castleford team-mate Nathan) Massey going for a run at seven o’clock.
“I was so glad it’s not me!” Much easier, indeed, to turn that coffee machine on ready for another day’s business.