By Alan Irving

Last updated at 11:39, Thursday, 07 April 2011

MR Barry Richardson is held in high esteem in the world of rugby league.

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So much so that when Whitehaven RLFC hit the financial rocks last summer the game’s governing body asked if he would consider drawing on his knowledge and experience to help resurrect the club.

As events unfolded, with Haven entering administration and leaving almost as quickly, the club’s new owners Dick and JD Raaz, invited Barry to become chief executive.

He didn’t need asking twice.

As a former successful chairman he had overseen an exhilarating journey to the first of two consecutive league Grand Finals.

Work demands meant Barry was on and off the board of directors more often than he would have liked but then last year opportunity knocked again in timely fashion as his 30-year career at Sellafield drew to a close.

There was a chance for him to play a part in Whitehaven RLFC’s New Beginnings – at last Barry knew he’d be able to give 100 per cent commitment to the cause.

And, of course, the “building blocks” were being put in place to build a brand new sports stadium. One to serve the interests of the whole Copeland community but with RL and soccer taking centre stage.

No better or more exciting time for any one to be involved in rugby league, football or sport generally at Whitehaven. Something fans have been craving for and a wish about to come true. Fans like Barry Richardson who went literally from the terraces to the boardroom.

Now, ironically, with administration wiping the financial slate clean, the rugby horizons are pretty bright – the promised land of Super League may be far off yet but what looms more immediately is the prospect of an immediate return to an expanded the Co-operative Championship proper.

Says Barry: “At Whitehaven we want to be a Championship side again as soon as possible. We want to do the best we can for the club and supporters. The atmosphere between players, coaches, and directors and backroom staff is great.

“Players need to be proud to play for us and evolve in the best possible environment. So how great would it be for us to have a wonderful facility that people are happy to be around.

“How great for people to come into a brand new stadium, sit in lovely surroundings with nice hospitality and bars, being able to watch games in comfort plus the knock on effects of other events. Also it will be ideal for businesses wanting to use the facilities during the week with conferences etc.

“It’s so fantastic for Copeland. There are also spin offs. One might be in having the stadium ready for the 2013 season – what a wonderful opportunity with the RL World Cup coming if we can encourage the RFL to accommodate a good quality team in this area for the duration of the event. So you could have a team and supporters staying up here for 20 to 40 days – think of the economic value for the area.

“Obviously this is exciting for the community as a whole, not just Whitehaven RL and Whitehaven AFC. It will bring so much to Copeland and West Cumbria – a first class, versatile facility for other sports and events, even concerts.

“Making this happen for the community is what sums up the passion for all the people involved.

“Our aspirations (within financial constraints) is to end up with a Super League team for West Cumbria,” says Barry.

“While last year the events surrounding the shootings were so shocking and tragic, it is universally recognised that the Cumbria v England match, played on the Recreation in memory of Garry Purdham, brought a truly magnificent response from the general public. It also had a very positive effect in the eyes of the Rugby Football League.

“Personally, I think it whetted appetites for a West Cumbrian Super League team.”

On the RFL’s proposal for any merged clubs to gain entry into the expanded Championship next season, Barry says: “If in the future West Cumbria had a single Super League side then that team would obviously need suitable facilities to play in. Everyone wants what’s best to establish a successful West Cumbrian side.

“If the Whitehaven community sports stadium goes ahead, and if we could get a franchise for a West Cumbrian team to play at Whitehaven, then great.

“Equally if Workington had a similar facility then what would be wrong with playing some games at Whitehaven and others at Workington? It’s not the ideal solution but it works in France.”

These are Barry’s views and he added: “West Cumbria needs all the help it can get to be successful in the future. If it’s Super League then all well and good. Whitehaven and Workington need each other to be successful.”

How confident are you that the dream is going to come true? “As Mr Raaz says ‘it’s the closest we’ve ever been’. There’s a strong will for it to happen.”

Barry recalls his early association with the Recre – “My parents were both avid supporters (both were at the very first game, my dad grew up on the Valley overlooking the ground). They tell me they took me to games in my pram.

“One of my earliest memories was playing soccer on the Miners’ field (opposite The Recre) and being chased off for the whippet racing on Saturdays,” he laughed.

“What I also remember vividly was seeing some big games and big stars. St Helens coming up with legends such as Tom Van Vollenhoven and Alex Murphy. And of course Haven’s old dressing rooms.

“If home fans were upset, away teams sometimes had to run the gauntlet to get off the pitch. Harry Edgar, David Farrell and myself used to carry buckets of water and sponges into the changing rooms. Well, it also got us into the games free!

“As I got older I played cricket and soccer. At one time I played cricket, football and table tennis for The Whitehaven News and Moss Bros.

“At The News I served my time as a printer. I think I know who helped me get it – Bert Cranston who played cricket for St Bees and worked in the hot metal room which was full of linotypes and great characters.

“Finishing my appren-ticeship at The News, I went to Bethwaites at Cleator Moor where the late Bob Wilkinson was a great boss.”

But that was the end of printing for Barry. Off to Sellafield he went – the start of a long and satisfying career.

Sporting-wise Barry played for Cumberland Schools at both rugby league and cricket. Later he was a member of the Haig Colliery football side alongside Bill Robson. Now the pair are friends who again find themselves on the same side once more – helping push ahead the combined community sports stadium.

“I loved playing cricket for St Bees with the likes of Bert, George Youdale, Harold Shackley and Paul Charlton, not forgetting David Seeds’ dad when he was at High Duty’s, Distington.”

The gradual step from Haven fan to Boardroom saw Barry rose to chairman when Haven went to the first of two successive Grand Finals (beaten by Leigh in extra time in the first).

“I came on the board the year Paul Cullen left.

“Steve McCormack came in, we played outstanding rugby and made the Grand Final and we were only minutes away from Super League. I was honoured to lead the team out. It was very emotional and proud. My mam and dad, wife (Karen), daughter (Olivia) and her partner (Dean) were there and so pleased for me. These were good times, the atmosphere in the town and on the terraces was phenomenal.

“After the first Grand Final I stood down as chairman, it was so time consuming, but was able to stay involved on the board.”

Was too much emphasis put on building a good playing side at the expense of the club’s financial help? “If you look at the team for the first Grand Final there weren’t many travellers, we had an outstanding side of mainly locally-based players. Sam Obst was an exception and an exceptional player, I think if Sam hadn’t been taken out of the game effectively then we would have beaten Leigh.

Obst himself wasn’t on a lot of money and was well looked after by Lyn and Gary Barwise.”

Was it a case of going for broke to reach Super League? “The club was in a good financial position when I stood down as chairman but all the directors at the time were good friends and absolutely passionate about Whitehaven rugby league and did their best to bring the success we undoubtedly had on the field.”

Where did it go wrong then? “Personally I think it was when the club tried to move forward bringing in more good quality players, probably trying to achieve Super League. Which would have been everybody’s aspirations but things didn’t work out. It’s now about the future.”

How shocked were you to hear of the club’s worsening financial plight? “The club was in sound financial position at the time of the first Grand Final. Rugby league is a great game but it’s got more and more difficult at our level. There’s so much focus on Super League but saying that the RFL has been fantastic. The overall product is absolutely terrific but it’s harder and harder to sustain clubs without significant financial investment.

“Over the years at Whitehaven we've been thankful for the support of the nuclear industry – in recent times Washington URS and LLWR. Without them we wouldn’t have had the success we had.

“I feel very sorry for the local businesses who have suffered through the club going into administration. On the other hand the club has been able to survive and start again with a clean slate. The commitment, the desire and the backing of Dick and JD has been absolutely wonderful, they are so passionate about Whitehaven rugby league. I think we had an excellent board of directors over recent years with the likes of Bill Madine, Ralph Calvin, Ron Batty, Ken Shepherd, John Reed, Keith Nelson and Des Byrne.

“Des’ commitment to Whitehaven rugby league has been phenomenal.

“His enthusiasm has never wavered. When I was chairman he and the other directors were equally committed.”

Barry says he is “absolutely loving” his chief executive’s role.

“We have a good team of youth and experience which is going to get better and better. The passion and commitment shown by Dick & JD is rubbing off on everybody. Michael (Wood) and Ralph (Calvin) have also stuck with it, our new directors are also very enthusiastic With any luck at all something very good is going to happen here.”

First published at 11:09, Thursday, 07 April 2011
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk