Weren't the Falcons effectively just Gosforth, but rebranded with the Hall family money behind them in the outset?

John Hall was attempting to create a Newcastle 'brand' across different sports in the area - I was only about 9-10 at the time but remember it being on the local news - he bought and rebranded Gosforth Rugby as the Newcastle Falcons in 1996 and had done the same with the Durham Wasps in 95 which I was devastated about as I had recently got in to hockey and being from Durham, the ice hockey team was something everyone was proud of.

Anyway, he took over and rebranded Gosforth Rugby and Durham ice hockey as the Newcastle Falcons and Cobras respectively.

He did a lot of good and boosted the profile and success of sport in the North East through almost tying it up together as 'different branches of the same tree' though the Wasps in particular were too famous and I think he would have been better just investing in them to keep them solvent.

'Tales from a north-eastern boy'; coming to your local book store in time for Christmas 2014!

Wasn't there a BBL Basketball team as well, Newcastle Eagles?

Yeah there was and is the Eagles as well. I decided not to mention them for fear of becoming too detailed in my reply, but he took over / invested in them as well. They were already in Newcastle though. As were Newcastle United, obviously.

My old stomping ground, so you're in Cullercoats then ?

I could think of worse places to be, I used to live in The Queens pub right on the headland as you drive into W/Bay, its now boarded up and possibly demolished now, I also almost bought an apartment on top of the cliff that overlooked Long Sands at Tynemouth, like a fool I didn't, can you imagine what it would be worth now ?

We still discuss the possibility of moving back to Tynemouth now and again, but then I'd have to learn the language all over again and at my age I'm not sure I'm up to it bonny la-ad.

Yep, to the total digust of many of the old boys there, I also think that Northern went at the same time too, or maybe they still exist, not sure.

What Jamie101 has written is pretty much a summary of John Halls attempt to nail down a Newcastle brand across different sports although why he chose Durham Wasps when he had Whitley Bay on its knees at the time I don't know, maybe he thought they were dead in the water already.

But again, what they did at the Falcons is pretty much what Caddick did at Leeds, and all at the same time, it worked in Newcastle because I suspect the brand appealed, but its failed in Leeds because...well no-one knows why really.

Being a 9 year old boy from Durham who had just got into Ice Hockey in a massive way (thus a lovely blend of interested and ignorant to the the outside issues) the Wasps were losing money and there was something up with the ice rink in Durham (it was either coming to the end of a lease or needed redeveloping or something) and I think he chose Durham because the Wasps were one of the best teams in the late 80s / early 90s; he was trying to catch a giant that had stumbled over.

Problem was that many Wasps fans didn't follow the Vipers to Newcastle and the Vipers have never been that massive.

I can only assume that because Whitley Warriors weren't at the same level Durham was the more attractive option.

Plus at that exact time, Newcastle United trained at Maiden Castle on the outskirts of Dutham city centre and used to have hundreds of fans going to watch them (thousands in the school summer holidays) - I think he was probably trying to cash in on that.

Anyway, that is all for this chapter!

Just p1ssed myself off now Loz, look at this [urlhttp://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47596406.html[/url.

That apartment is in almost exactly the location that I viewed one in 1982, if anything the one I looked at was closer to the end of the terrace and so closer to the sea.

I could have had it for £10,000.

The reason pro union fails in Leeds as much as anything is probably related to the existence of Rugby League. Although there are plenty of closed-minded types, a lot of people are happy to be involved in union whilst watching Leeds RLFC - who are, after all, a relatively middle class club compared to most of their SL brethren. Plus, like it or not, watching Leeds RUFC play at Headingley is generally a less invigorating experience than watching Leeds RL - it can be a windy and atmosphere-less place with 3,000 inside and most locals will probably have seen the ground's owners play there at some stage. That comparison is always going to be difficult, not least if you're trying to attract the kids.

Add on the fact that folk who really wanted to watch club union probably already had their chosen local side and that the proportion of people who want to watch pro sport which isn't football is surely limited and you're left with where they are.

IIRC Durham's council-owned rink was earmarked for demolition and they were haemorrhaging money in a big way in any case.

Another part of the problem with the Leeds club is that the component parts that came together to make it weren't particularly "big" clubs pre-professionalism, in terms of profile or support.

Neither Headingley nor Roundhay were a Leicester, a Bath or even a Gosforth. They were two small clubs brought together to make a slightly bigger small club.

True. In the same way, a Cas-Wakey merger would never produce the "super club" some have envisaged.

But at least it would only produce the need for one ground & subsequently only one team to lose money or to need baling out by its owners.

And only one team to finish above Leeds...

How's your Trophy Cabinet these days?

Mr sheen fresh.

Last year, Cas made as many finals and won as many playoff games as Leeds did.

TBF they had more or less the same kind of season we did in 2005.

A season some would have you believe truly was our teams attacking zenith.

Now they really need to build on it.

You mean Pearson will wave a blank cheque to convince Sam that (once again) this IS the season that Hull FC lift the SL trophy

I've said before that RU is making the same mistake RL clubs used to make - signing 'big name' RL players rather than looking for RL players who fit more naturally in RU.

Remember when RL clubs wasted money signing the likes of Stu Evans and Dai Young, in an era when it was clear that RU props were already completely unsuited to RL?

Andy Farrell, Henry Paul (and hopefully Sam Burgess) were players that were clearly outstanding RL players, but if you were after RL players for RU none of them would have been signed. Wingers and centres are the easiest fit, as they were when RL was doing the poaching. Iestyn Harris was clearly a good 'rugby' player, and had he gone a few years before he did would probably have been sensational in RU, but he's almost the exception that proves the rule.

Even wingers should be looked at carefully. Wendell Sailor was in many ways the perfect RL winger - strong, happy to act as an extra forward, reasonably quick. But he really struggled with RU where a lot of his skill (notably running the ball back) wasn't required. Tuqiri was a less dominant RL winger but made a much better job of RU, as did Matt Rogers.

Whilst I'm unhappy Burgess has moved, if he fails to make a real impact (which is quite possible IMO), then hopefully it will discourage more poaching. I couldn't care less if that means the likes of Stephen Jones have more 'evdence' to diss RL players.

BTW, I used to watch Headingley play before I started watching Leeds. The term 'one man and his dog' springs to mind when remembering the crowds, even when they had England international Peter Winterbottom playing for them.

Good come back. All your own work?

Clive Woodward's take on SB's chances for the union WC. Pretty much spot on, I'd say. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html

Clive Woodward's take on SB's chances for the union WC. Pretty much spot on, I'd say. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html

I had alot of "No Trophy at Castleford" material to work with

Quote ="Clearwing"Clive Woodward's take on SB's chances for the union WC. Pretty much spot on, I'd say. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html'" I agree with him in what is pretty much a common sense summary of sams chances at making the WC.i have no doubt he will be fast tracked into the squad personal opinion, and will more than likely be used off the bench for the last 10 to 15 minutes of games when England are under the pump as a throw of the dice.

Quote ="Clearwing"Clive Woodward's take on SB's chances for the union WC. Pretty much spot on, I'd say. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html'" I agree with him in what is pretty much a common sense summary of sams chances at making the WC.i have no doubt he will be fast tracked into the squad personal opinion, and will more than likely be used off the bench for the last 10 to 15 minutes of games when England are under the pump as a throw of the dice.

Interesting article on how Kyle Eastmond has developed into one of the best at the breakdown and clear out and will be a model for Burgess to follow. Looks like Sam is in good hands at Bath


[urlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11269577/How-Kyle-Eastmond-set-the-blueprint-for-Sam-Burgess.html[/url