Bradford Bulls star Whitehead makes kids’ day (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls star Elliott Whitehead makes Birkenshaw juniors’ day

7:00pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Bulls star Elliott Whitehead took time out from his busy schedule to hand out season passes to junior players at Birkenshaw RLFC at the weekend.

The community club’s first event of 2013 was held in conjunction with the Bulls Ambassador Programme and Player Adoption Programme, which is run by the club’s Foundation.

All the youngsters received a rugby league bronze skills award certificate as well as a pass.

“What the Bulls are doing for the grass-roots clubs in the area is exceptional,” said Birkenshaw chairman Andy Redmond.

“We seem to have been forgotten about in recent years. But Richard Tate (Bulls development officer) has embraced Francis Cummins’ philosophy of nurturing local talent in the hope of seeing more home-grown players pulling on a Bulls jersey in the not too distant future.”

Birkenshaw have a long-established history of running junior sides but, after the loss of their home ground and changing facilities a number of years ago, they were no longer able to continue to run a junior section.

However, the club now have a permanent base again and plan to improve the changing facilities at their East Bierley home.

The club will be operating three junior sides this season, with under-sevens, under-eights and under-nines all taking to the field.

The under-eights will be playing on the Provident Stadium pitch at half-time during the Bulls’ opening Super League game against Wakefield on Sunday.

Anyone wishing to get involved should contact Andy Redmond on 07876-692318.