History

Rugby league in Cumbria can trace it roots back over 100 years to the formation of the Northern Union. Whitehaven had its own team Whitehaven Recreation that competed in the Challenge cup in the first decade of the 20th Century.

The current club Whitehaven RLFC was formed in 1948, three years after Workington Town .On February 9 that year the idea was first floated at a public Meeting in Kells Welfare. Soon after the club was admitted into the Northern Rugby League by just 14-11 votes. The clubs first game Haven took place on Saturday 21 August 1948 when they beat Hull 5-0. Despite pouring rain, there was a "disappointing" turnout of JUST 9,000 to support the new club.

From these humble origins Whitehaven RLFC gradually picked itself up and progressed. In 1951 the first of a long line of players from Down Under joined Haven as Neville Emery became player-coach. Under his guidance the club built a team that could compete with the best. In the 1956/57 season Whitehaven defeated the Australian tourists by 14 pts to 11 before an exultant near 11,000 Recreation Ground crowd. Later that season the club came within minutes of a Wembley appearance when they lost 10-9 to Leeds in a Challenge cup semi final before a 50,000 crowd at the Odsal Stadium, featuring players such as the legendary Dick Huddart and Full back John McKeown .The end of that season saw Emery return home to be replaced by Eppie Gibson, he re-built the team, and in 1959-60 the club finished 6th in the league their highest ever position.

The 1960s were a period of decline as the club struggled on the field, though in 1965 the club defeated the touring New Zealanders 12-5 at the Recreation Ground .It wasn't until 1970 that the club emerged from this lean spell .Under the coaching of Sol Roper they topped the RFL table for part of the 1969/70 season. Once again the club defeated the games top clubs like St Helens, Wigan and Bradford Northern at the Recreation Ground The club progressed over the next few years: floodlights were acquired in 1973.

However success was once again denied at the last hurdle as the club suffered semi-final defeats in both the Lancashire Cup and the John Player cup. Two promotion to the top division came in 1980s and during this period the club produced a batch of internationals in scrum half Arnold Boxer Walker, forward Vince Fox and centre Vince Gribbin. By the end of the 1980s the club found itself back in Division two and after a number of lean years the appointment of Kiwi coaches Kurt Sorensen and Stan Martin brought about a revival at the club with the Haven finishing 3rd in Div 1 in 1997 and reaching the play off semi-finals only to lose to Hull Sharks.

In recent years mergers with neighbours Workington have proposed on a number of occasions but the Haven have remained confident in their own future. Paul Cullen arrival from Warrington in September 2000 heralded a new era at the club. His attitude and professionalism saw the club make steady progress and earn a place in National League 1 for 2003, confirming the Haven as Cumbria premier RL club and dismissing the myth that clubs local based squad could not compete with the best. Paul Cullens reward was a recall back to Warrington and Super-league, his replacement was the highly respected Steve McCormack who was previously with Salford City Reds. A Coach who built on the foundations already in place and he has taken the club to the next level as one of the top clubs in National League 1.

The 2004 season will go down as the most successful the club has enjoyed. The team made up, in the majority by Cumbrian's went through the season losing only 4 league games and getting to the semi final of the Arriva Trains cup beaten by Leigh the eventual winners. They finished second in NL 1 to Leigh, and it was they who were to prove the Havens nemesis later in the season In a pulsating Grand Final at Widnes the Leythers finally defeated a brave Haven team in extra time after the score was 16 all at the end of 80 Minutes.

The following year, despite Castleford Tigers being red hot favourites for promotion, Whitehaven managed to win their first piece of silverware when the took the National League One League Leaders trophy, however they were unable to take this success into the Grand Final, where they were heavily beaten by the Castleford side.

The end of the 2005 season saw Steve McCormack leave the club and take charge at the Widnes Vikings. Whitehaven appointed Dave Rotheram, assistant coach at St Helens, as the new club coach. With clubs around Whitehaven going full time, 2006 was always going to be a tough year. Numerous youngsters were called upon due to numerous injuries to key players and more than held their own. Some may see the 4th place finish a disappointment, although it meant Whitehaven were the best place part-time club in the country. Unfortunately 3 finals wasn't to be after Haven were defeated in a thrilling match against McCormacks Vikings at the Halton Stadium in the Play-Off Semi Final.

Haven legend Aaron Lester has signalled that 2007 will be his final year before retiring. With many talented young players coming through the clubs academy system, 2007 is sure to be an exciting year for the club.