Rubgy League Team call in at the Brewery on their way to the match

Black Sheep will be donating beer to riders for their charity auction. New North East Regional League outfit MINERS RL, based in Ashington Northumberland have teamed up with Rovers to form a unique partnership. Founded in 2011, MINERS RL chose to name themselves in recognition of a cultural community rather than a geographical one. Ashington is in the heart of the now defunct Northumberland Coalfield. The connection between them and Rovers is obvious, as chair Trevor Murdie explains; “The historical connection between coal mining and Rugby League is inseparable. Featherstone Rovers symbolise that more than any other club. That is why our playing kit is navy blue and white hoops. Woven into the design are the names of the 70 Northumberland pits that were in existence at the time of Nationalisation-now there aren’t any.” Rovers play York City Knights at the Big Fellas Stadium on 20^th of May. Miners’ RL are planning a 5 day charity bike ride starting at Woodhorn Mining Museum in Northumberland , and hope to arrive at the game before kick-off, having called at Black Sheep Brewery to pick up a crate of beer, with a detour to the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield. Trevor elaborated; “It’s a while before the ride, and it’ll be a mighty task-we are the most Northerly Rugby League club in England. We want people to know about it in good time because we want people to donate items such as that crate of ale, and for instance the hospitality package the Gateshead Thunder have promised us, so that we can auction them. The money that we collect on our ride and raise from the auction will be donated to TRY ASSIST…the Rugby League benevolent Fund and the Mineworkers’ benevolent fund. Rovers are being very supportive with this, and we are sure that this kind of support will spread and grow as word gets around.” Paul Taylor Commercial Manager of Featherstone Rovers said “We saw the recent news that MINERS RL had formed and were honoured they had chosen our traditional colours. We are looking forward to welcoming them to Featherstone for the first time against on May 20^th and wish them luck in their first season.”