I have to give credit to the supporters association they have got some really good speakers going on. Well done.

Next Tuesday [18th:



7pm – committee meeting:



7:30 pm – joint meeting with other Giants’ groups - Ikram Butt guest speaker.

Just a reminder that next Tuesday [1st February Mick has organised Nigel Wood of the RFL to come along and speak to us. I’m sure there are many questions we would like to put to him!! Town are at home this night, so be wary of where you park otherwise the car park man might try and charge you. Stick to the club side.



Our first Wednesday meeting [16th February will be a games evening. £1 per person to enter with the winner collecting a substantial monetary reward for his/her efforts! Bring along some guests so that we can have am all-action event!!



In the near future we will be honoured to have as our guest our Club Chairman, Ken Davy. I’m awaiting confirmation from Ken, but we have pencilled in the 3rd Wednesday in April. This will be an all ticket event limited to 75 attendees. Initially it will be open to members only. So if you are a member you have until the end of February to order your [free ticket. After that they will go on sale to other supporters at a price of £2 [I’m sure a fellow committee person will correct me if I’m wrong with the price. So, if you’re not a member why not join now for only a couple of pounds more than the cost of seeing Ken? Visit the website for an on-line or downloadable form:

[url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Forms/Membership.htmlwww.giantssupporters.co.uk/Forms/Membership.html[/url.





Remember that all our events are to be found on the Calendar pages of our website:

[url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Editorial/Calendar_2011.htmlwww.GiantsGupporters.co.uk/Editorial/Calendar_2011.html[/url.

I'd like to thank Ikram Butt for the excellent talk he gave to the Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association the other night. Please follow the link for a report on the evening. [url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Editorial/News_2011.htmlIkram Butt[/url

I'd like to thank Nigel Wood for the excellent talk he gave to the Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association the other night. Please follow the link for a report on the evening. [url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Editorial/News_2011.htmlNigel Wood[/url

Ken Davy has just confirmed that he will attend our April meeting [Wednesday 20th.



However, please note:

1. Turnbridge WMC has a fire limit of 75 hence the event will be all ticket;

2. Exclusive – and free - to members until the end of February [request one now!;

3. March 1st will see the tickets available to anyone – still free to members but £2 to guests [so why not pay the extra £3 and become a member?!.



Membership forms [on-line and downloadable paper are available here:

[url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Forms/Membership.htmlMembership[/url.

Photos of the Games Night are [url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Photos/Games_Night_2011/index.html:d8rmvd40here[/url:d8rmvd40 [& on Facebook – want to be my Friend?!!!:



Apologies for not being top-notch quality – my flash’s batteries were dud so I had to use ISO 3200 on my camera [for the techies amongst you!.



Next meeting is March 1st.



Wednesday March 16th – Heritage Centre [George Hotel – meet 7:30 pm in the Players Bar. Free to members, £1 otherwise.



[url=http://www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk:d8rmvd40www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk[/url Book your place by e-mailing me or telling a committee person when you see them.



Finally, what do YOU want from the Supporters Association? PLEASE let us know. We want to be as successful off the field as the team will be on it.

Next meeting is March 1st. Speaker is Paul Kilbride [on behalf of RL Benevolent Fund. [i:1jy2xau2[Change of speaker due to David Howes having to work dahn Sarf.[/i:1jy2xau2



Wednesday March 16th – Heritage Centre [George Hotel – meet 7:30 pm in the Players Bar. Free to members, £1 otherwise.



[url=http://www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk:1jy2xau2www.GiantsSupporters.co.uk[/url Book your place by e-mailing me or telling a committee person when you see them.



Finally, what do YOU want from the Supporters Association? PLEASE let us know. We want to be as successful off the field as the team will be on it.

I know this is long, but PLEASE read it.



What a night!



A packed Turnbridge listened in awe to 3 great, unsung heroes of Rugby League. Paul Kilbride and Stewart Walker gave their accounts of their life-changing spinal injuries.



At the age of 17, Paul got up and had an unexceptional day - until half-way through his rugby match. He woke up the next day in hospital with a totally paralysed lower body. That was in the days before the Rugby League Development Fund had been formed.



Thankfully his club raised a substantial amount of money to help Paul start to put his new life in order - a wheelchair, changes to his house, care, etc.



Around 2005, whilst playing for London Broncos, Matt King also broke his neck. Matt can now only move his head. This resulted in the Rugby League setting up the Rugby League Development Fund with the aim of helping players through times of adversity.



Each year Paul and other wheelchair-bound ex-players attend the Cup Final where they are wined and dined in style. The Grand Final and Huddersfield Giants have also taken this idea on board, giving Paul and his friends a chance to remain in touch and fraternise with the world of Rugby League.



Stewart decided early on that he did not want to give up his beloved game. He became a RL wheelchair player, being a crucial member of the extremely successful Halifax side. He adapted so well that his efforts were recognised by the fact that he was selected for the England team to play in the RL Wheelchair World Cup held in Australia.



England reached the final where they beat the much fancied Australians. Stewart's World Cup medal is proudly on display in the Heritage Centre at the George Hotel in Huddersfield.



Craig is the odd one out in this trio.



He was a local amateur player whose fledgling professional career ended with a cruciate ligament injury whilst at Batley Bulldogs.



Since then Craig has pushed himself to the limits of fitness: rowing marathons, triathlons, and, in 2012, an Iron Man contest. What makes Craig a role model for youngsters is that he finds sponsors for himself and then donates the money raised to the RL Development Fund.



These three made a huge impression on the audience and, hopefully, more will spread the word of the excellent work the fund does. The downside of the evening was the fact that the only Super League club to invite wheelchair-bound ex-players is the Giants. Come on SL, it doesn't take much.



More details about the RL Development Fund can be found at [url=http://www.tryassist.co.ukwww.tryassist.co.uk[/url.

Thanks for that info Ivor - got so much admiration for these chaps.

What are your numbers like at the meetings Ivor?

Getting on for 40 at the last one.



40+ members at the moment and still growing.



We're having a promotion for the Association at the Bulls match [complete with total backing and support from the club, thank you. If anyone wants to help please join us anytime after 2 o'clock near the ticket office. Only downside is that I shall have to be in T WMC at noon!!



Ken's night in April is nearing the limit so if you haven't got your seat reserved GET A MOVE ON! [April 20th, members free, guests £2. Membership is £5 - apply [url=http://www.giantssupporters.co.uk/Forms/Membership.html:2rm8gzkwhere[/url