Thunder Make Two More Appointments in Community
Gatehead Thunder are proud to announce the appointment of Lee Curry and Rob Sykes as their new Community Rugby League Assistants in County Durham, taking the total of people working for the Gateshead Thunder Community Department to Seven.
Gateshead Thunder and County Durham Sport linked with the National Skills Academy to secure funding to employ Community Rugby League Assistants to work alonside the County Durham Community Rugby League Coaches Rob Jones and Karl Stephenson.
The pair will be supporting the development of Rugby League within County Durham, specifically the League for All programmes, including Touch, Tag, Masters and Wheelchair Rugby League.
Gateshead Thunder and County Durham Sport secured funding through the Future Jobs Fund project, which has been set up to support the creation of jobs and employment of young people between 18 and 24 years old approaching long term unemployed.
Lee is from Teams in Gateshead and is the first profoundly deaf person to work for Gateshead Thunder and in Community Rugby League. Lee is also team manager of Rutherford Deaf AFC who have recently become 2010 British Champions for the first time in their history, and has also played Rugby Union for Ryton. Lee has also been a Youth Worker for Gateshead Youth Council and has a vast array of academic qualifications.
Lee said of his appointment:
"It feels an honour and a privilege to be part of Gateshead Thunder."
"I feel like I will develop my confidence and make a new friends here at the club and across the local communities that I will work in."
"I am looking forward to starting in the new year."
Rob is from North Shields, North Tyneside and has coached, played and volunteered for both Whitley Bay Barabarians and North East Rugby League for several years. Rob is also a qualified coach in Basketball, Table Tennis, Boxercise and is also a qualifed pool lifeguard and registered gym instructor.
Rob said:
"I am very excited about getting this position and cannot wait to start."
"I have worked voluntarily in Rugby League for a long time so to be able to take this next step in my career is a great boost."
Director of Rugby Chris Hood commented:
"This is a great opportunity for both Lee and Rob and we are very proud to have them as part of our community team."
"Both will be helping to assist the development of Rugby League across the County Durham area as well as take the Gateshead Thunder brand and image with them wherever they go."
"We'd like to thank Jo Drapier, RFL Regional Development Manager for the North East and Sandy Mitchell, Strategic Partnership Manager at County Durham Sport for working with us to make this opportunity happen."