CARTER CARING FOR RUGBY FANS
WAKEFIELD chief executive Michael Carter spent last night delivering food parcels to an elderly supporter. Carter and Trinity had offered to help fans in the vulnerable category during the current pandemic and have been trying to contact them all. That has seen the Super League club’s owner Carter (left) personally pitch in as an increasing number of older fans are unable to venture out. He said: “We like to think that we’re a big part of the local community. “We’ve been checking in and seeing if our older season ticket holders are okay. ‘‘We’ve not got round all of them yet as there’s around 500 but we’ve made a good start. One 1 8 10 14 18 22 lady asked if I’d pick a food parcel up for her dad, so I took it round to him.
“It’s not a big thing but at times like this hopefully we get to see the better side of everybody. This isn’t just a rugby league thing, it’s a being part of humanity thing.
“We know some people are hoarding but I think it’s a minority and everybody else would do anything they could to help their neighbour.”
Warrington are among other clubs stepping up their efforts in the local 2 19 3 7 13 21 11 4 9 17 20 23 15 5 12 6 16 area, including offering free online mental health sessions and ringing elderly members.
Super League referee Chris Kendall is part of a volunteer group in Huddersfield which is providing help to the vulnerable and Carter says it epitomises the sport as it looks for Government support.
He said: “We’ve just had a report done on the social value our club provides within the community and it was in excess of £1m.
“That’s a financial burden being taken away from the NHS and general local council services, and we’re one of the smaller Super League clubs – imagine Leeds Rhinos’ figure would be three or four times that.
“We do play our part and while I don’t believe the sport has ever been to the Government before to seek help, these are unprecedented times.
“I get that a lot of businesses want support and that this is sport, but it’s a sport that helps the community.
“This Government has talked a lot about the northern powerhouse and won a lot of seats in the north in the General Election. If they want to capitalise on that, then rugby league is a hell of an opportunity.”
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