New Hunslet director follows in family footsteps

Philip Crampton, stepson of former Hunslet, Castleford and Hull player Jimmy Crampton, has joined the Parksiders’ board as interim marketing and communications director.

A partner of London and Leeds-based digitally integrated agency Creode, Crampton has a “love for rugby league and a real affinity with Hunslet”.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to be involved with the club and even had initial discussions about 10 years ago.

“As a sport and a club we rely on our community and there is a real opportunity to engage with our fans and the wider rugby league community during the current climate and beyond as people are forming new habits with a revived sense of community spirit - and a renewed appetite to get back watching live matches while also consuming new bespoke content across our digital media platforms.”

Hunslet director of strategy and planning Neil Hampshire said: “It’s great to have Phil join the board.

“His background and experience in digital media, data analytics and communications is absolutely outstanding and will transform our marketing approach, taking us to a completely different level.

Meanwhile, Parksiders chairman Ken Sykes said the club are “fully behind” the RFL’s decision to push back the start of the League One season from March until later in the spring.

“These are unprecedented times and this decision not only helps protect player health and welfare, but also, with the continued roll out of the vaccine and impact of lockdown in controlling the virus, gives us the best chance of getting back to playing in front of our loyal fans,” Sykes said.

“I can assure our supporters head coach Gary Thornton and the squad are absolutely chomping at the bit to get back playing.

“The RFL is continuing to work on the fixture list, including the Coral Challenge Cup draw.

“There may yet be a need to hold some of our games behind closed doors, but we hope if that’s necessary we can livestream those games on the OurLeague app.

“In that instance home league games will be made available free to season ticket holders.”

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