A super fan who has supported Huddersfield Giants for 70 years will represent the team in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final Fans’ Choir at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, August 27 – and will be honouring tragic Ronan Costello in the process.
Neil Shuttleworth who is the John Smith’s Stadium club’s associate director and life member was selected by a BBC Song’s of Praise panel to be part of a 32-strong choir to sing ‘Abide With Me’ on the Wembley pitch moments before the final gets under way.
And Neil has revealed his claret and gold Huddersfield shirt will have the Costello name on the back of it to remember 17-year-old Ronan, who died playing for the Giants in an Academy game against Salford in June.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the Giants’ representative,” said Neil, who is joining one fan from each of the other 31 professional rugby league clubs in the choir.
“After 70 years of supporting the club through thick and thin – sometimes very thin – I will wear the Giants famous colours with pride.
“I’m only sorry that mine will be the only claret and gold shirt on the field – I had hoped to be “18th man”, with the first team lads being the other 17.
“But it was not to be which is sadly typical of this very tough year for the club.
“Having said that, none of our on and off field troubles can compare to the sad death of our up-and-coming Academy player Ronan Costello. With the blessing of Ronan’s family, I will be wearing the Costello name of the back of my shirt in his honour.
“From the reports of his coaches there seemed every chance that he would have been out there himself one day.
“This will be my 55th cup final, which started with our 1953 win over St Helens, and will be tinged with many mixed emotions. Overall, though, pride will certainly be the dominant one for the club, the fans and, of course, for Ronan.”
The judging panel that chose Neil included Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones, Leeds Rhinos player James Jones-Buchanan, West End star Connie Fisher and Lizzie Jones, who sang before last year’s final in memory of her late husband Danny Jones, who died in game paying for Keighley Cougars
Songs of Praise producer Matthew Napier explained how the decision to choose the choir was made.
He said: “We wanted to hear uplifting and unusual stories about supporting your club and why you thought you deserves a place representing your team in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Fans’ Choir.”
