Leeds Rhinos newest recruit Mitch Garbutt said he was amazed by his first Children’s Day experience at the club as he joined the rest of the Leeds Rhinos first team and over 5000 visitors to the stadium for Leeds’ biggest free event on Sunday.
Children’s Day supported by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and Mears proved to be another success for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation on Sunday, bringing together the community for a day of fun and enjoyment for children.
Over 30 stations were invited to the event organised by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation along with the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and the Garry Chappelow Memorial Fund offering sports from skateboarding and BMX biking to Handball and American Football, running alongside Rugby and Football tournaments on the Headingley pitch.
Mitch Garbutt, who joined the event with the rest of the Rhinos squad, commented on his first experience of the day:
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the club so far and today’s event has been a great day and obviously a really good turnout of people all enjoying the day. I think it’s really outstanding that the club are able to put this on and I know all the boys are really excited about these days, it’s just good fun and I’m pleased to be part of it.”
For most fans at the event, it was the first chance to meet the Australian prop who caught the end of the Rugby and Football tournaments to provide some photographs and hand out winner’s medals for the players:
“It’s always fun when you get to come and hang out with the kids, they don’t always get a chance to meet the players during the season,” added Garbutt.
“So having days like today when they can come and have a chat with the team and with this outstanding field to come and play on, I’m sure they are really enjoying that as well.
“It’s been great to come and sign some autographs and to present some medals to the kids playing here.”
Director of Operations for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Bob Bowman, commented on the success of the event:
“It’s been another successful Children’s Day for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and the club with thousands of people here, it’s been great to see so many smiles on people’s faces. This day can’t be put on without partners coming together, so on behalf of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, I’d like to thank Mears, British Gas, the Garry Chappelow Memorial Fund who have supported us for a number of years.
“I’d also like to thank Yorkshire Cricket who are great partners on this wonderful site, Irwin Mitchell who are big supporters of Children’s Day and our partners in the council under the agenda of creating a Child Friendly Leeds, we’ve all come together to put on a great day and long may it continue.
“The players turning up today, that has been great, they do a load for us anyway but I know when they see Children’s Day in their calendars, it’s one that they really look forward to and they come with their own families. We take our hats off to the players for turning out and letting the fans meet them.”