Among the thousands of passionate supporters filling the stands at Sale Sharks rugby matches, there are individuals whose extraordinary actions and inspiring stories stand out. Whether they’ve overcome significant challenges, made remarkable contributions to their community, or achieved great personal milestones, these fans remind us that you never know who might be sitting next to you at a Sale Sharks match.
We are taking time to interact with such people and are asking some questions, but overall allowing them to tell their story to a much bigger audience. Today we are going to share the story of Scott Whitney and what Sale Sharks means to him.
What inspired your love for rugby and particularly for Sale Sharks?
Scott: Rugby is a family sport. My Grandad, Dad and Brother all played for Redruth in Cornwall. I had an injury when I was quite young so never played rugby as an adult, but I always enjoyed watching it.
I moved to Manchester in 2017, and I got my season ticket in 2018 / 2019 season. The first thing I noticed about Sale was that despite it being an elite sports club, it was very family and community orientated. Very similar to Redruth. From then I was hooked!
How has being involved with rugby positively impacted your life?
Scott: Rugby players are generally very humble, and this aligns with my values. After becoming disabled in 2020, the importance of the club to me has grown massively. Society as a whole is not built for disabled people or wheelchair users like myself. I can often find myself on the outside looking in. At Sale I don’t feel like that. A lot of the players will proactively come and speak to me or hold doors open for me. This runs throughout the club with my regular chats with Carol Baker and Angela Traynor.
When I was without a home in 2023, and it felt like at times the world was falling down around me. I would come to watch the rugby and everything from the shuttle bus into the bar to the match and going home again would make things feel settled again.
How does the Sale Sharks Foundation’s work in promoting rugby and community engagement resonate with you personally?
Scott: I run an organisation called All 4 Inclusion which reduces loneliness within the disability community. Too many disabled people are isolated. Part of the reason for this is because disabled people do not have a voice or are not seen or heard. Sharks Foundation sees the community. Not only disabled people, but those who have difficulties with mental health, older people and very importantly introducing girls to the sport.
Can you share a memorable experience or story related as a Sale Sharks supporter?
Scott: After becoming disabled and thinking things were only going to go downhill, I decided to raise money for a charity with a physical challenge. Not knowing what my condition was at the time; I chose to raise funds for The Brain Charity. I completed the equivalent of 3 marathons propelling myself in my manual wheelchair and 6 marathons using an arm bike throughout January 2022. The last few miles were done on the morning before Sharks beat Leicester at home. This was my youngest daughter Isabelles first Sharks match. (She has never seen them lose!) After the match I was given a signed Sharks shirt.
Since then, I’ve done bucket collections at Sale Sharks matches to raise money for All 4 Inclusion. We ensure we use some of this money to give back to Sale Sharks supporters, giving them experiences which they wouldn’t normally be able to do on their own.
Doing this has helped me make friends. It shows that rugby is more than what happens on the pitch.
Two on the pitch moments I won’t forget is Denny Solomana scoring in the South West corner on the final match of the season vs Gloucester and the Women’s team beating Bristol at home last year. Both matches the atmosphere on and off the pitch was electric.
This is just one of many stories we will tell throughout the season hoping to inspire future generations of Sale Sharks fans.
If you are able, please click this LINK or scan the QR code below to make a donation to the Sale Sharks Foundation. Your support will greatly help us in giving back to our communities
