Giants chairman Davy – ‘We’ve got to grow’

Aug 31 2009 by Roy Wright, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GIANTS chairman Ken Davy has promised the fans his club will bring the Challenge Cup back to Huddersfield!

The man who has worked so hard to get Huddersfield back among the game’s elite has admitted Saturday’s 25-16 Challenge Cup final defeat against Warrington at Wembley came as a massive disappointment.

But he has pledged to make sure the bitter memories are erased by bringing the famous old trophy back to the birthplace of rugby league.

“What happened on Saturday has come as a big disappointment to everyone associated with the club,” he said.

“But what we have to do is ensure we learn from this game, grow from it and continue to move forward.

“We are going to bring silverware back to Huddersfield, and I can assure you that everyone connected with the club is determined to make that happen.

“When you look at the Challenge Cup, we have the best record in the competition, behind St Helens, in recent times.

“Since 2004 we have reached three semi-finals and two finals, which is a clear sign of the progress we have been making.

“Our aim now, of course, is to build on that excellent Challenge Cup record and bring back the top prize.

“With the progress we are making at all levels, we know that is definitely something within our power.”

Although it was clear after the game that defeat had hit Davy hard as he consoled his Giants from the Royal Box, most of his thoughts were for the thousands of fans – around 20,000 – who had made the trip to the capital.

“The support we received on the day was terrific, and across the town in general has been terrific,” he added.

“To see the fans wearing their claret and gold in such big numbers at Wembley was a truly fantastic sight.

“We probably took twice as many fans to Wembley as we did to Twickenham in 2006, and that is a further sign of the progress we are making as a club.

“But I feel so desperately sorry for them, as I also do for the players themselves, for the backroom staff and coaching staff, that we couldn’t send them all home happy.