Egremont Rangers appoint Brocklebank

Egremont Rangers have signed ex-player John-Paul Brocklebank as the first-team’s new player-coach.

After Rangers avoiding relegation last season Brockleback is keen to get back to where it all started for him and make a difference.

Brocklebank has spent his last two seasons at Whitehaven.

He said: “It will be good to re-unite with old friends but things are different now as I will be in charge.

“The players attitude will decide where we finish, not me, it is up to them to listen and learn.”

“I am excited to come back home and I am hoping to avoid injury and have better luck that way. My first job is to sort training out and see how we can make it interesting, but challenging.

“We start on the 3rd of January and all newcomers are welcome. Home games are a priority and with three West Cumbria teams in the National Conference League we should all make the most of Yorkshire and Lancashire clubs having to travel here three times a year”.

Alan Bewsher, club spokesman said: “Paul Henson will be helping out with coaching along with John Brock senior in support and I am delighted that John Wells and Dean Laverick will continue as the A team coaches.

“I am delighted to have persuaded, one of our finest players back to the club. I have chatted with JP and he said he was looking forward to passing on what he learned during his time at Whitehaven.”

On his time at Whitehavens, Brocklebank said: “I loved it, I was just unlucky with injuries. There were good players at Whitehaven, but it is hard to compete with the likes of Leigh and Bradford with such a resource gap between the top and bottom clubs.

“The fans were brilliant, especially the small band that travelled everywhere with us.

“I really do wish Whitehaven RL all the very best, they deserve success, but now it’s time for Egremont Rangers to see some success and I want to bring on the youth so that we can compete with the very best in the country.”