St.Helens towns have been told they can play at LP for free, as per the previouys agreement, but as per that agreement they pay for the cost of hosting the game only, which they cant afford now. How thats Saints problem is beyond me

It may seem petty, and its quite clear we are not going to agree on this, I was brought up and have always keep to and accept that any agreement as being an agreement!

"How that's Saints Problem" you ask?

Well to refer to the Guardian 1 August 2007 "Town could play at Saints for 80 years & to support the football club financially and practically" in return for the Houghton Ground monies received.

One day perhaps something fair will be done which both parties can agree on, I hope so.

But they can play at LP. As per the previous agreement.

Surely you don't think Saints should have to pay for running costs, stewarding, turnstile staffing etc? We won't be providing those services for free to LFC U19a.

Do Latics pay for this when Wigan Warriors play? Or are they expected to meet their own costs for hosting the game?

BOTH teams pay to use the Stadium. Wigan RL pay 10% of the "gate" money. I presume Latics have a similar agreement.

So, one doesn't cover costs for the other. Quite right.

And have Saints not offered SHT an alternative, provided it fits in with the criterion for their league, ie, the training facilities?

It isn't Saints fault that STH can't afford the costs of staging a game at LP, rent free.

This

Thanks for that Simon, I was not sure what the original agreement covered. The Guardian article only states that costs where asked for. I assumed costs would be in the agreement as if they were not St Helens Town would be within their rights to tell Saints to go and run in terms of the costs.

So basically they can play, rent free and mortgage free for 80 years.

Also the Guardian article is at pains to stress how much the St helens town ground was sold for, but fails to mention any debts that had to be paid for...


Basically the Guardian article is very one sided as though football is being put upon.

I'm one for sticking to agreements, so would be unhappy if Saints tried to do the dirty. But if it's a case that Town signed a deal they could not afford, then I have very little sympathy. If I sign a deal financially, then I either live up to my side of that deal or the other side are not afforded the need to stick to their side.

If I remember correctly a director at the time told me they where pretty much the same.

Match is free on LFC TV now. Good view of South Stand.

Went to the match tonight and tbh it was a pretty good turn out. Not sure of the official attendance but I'd guess at around 7k.

That's about right. Good night, hope they do more but I hope they are more prepared for the big crown next time and open two stands instead of just the South.

At least they got the posh stand!

I know and I had a cracking view too, I'm not complaining but I just think it should be taken on board for next time - the stewards looked quite harrassed tonight

Just reading some of the Liverpool forums and a lot of supporters think it was an artificial pitch.

That was what the LFC TV presenter said, looks like he did his research wrong

The pitch did looked superb, the scorch marks from the first couple of weeks have completely disappeared now. Shouldn't have been mistaken for an artifical pitch though



Out of interest which forum did you go on?

What was the final score?

6-0 to Ajax, really was men against boys.

According to what was said on Wish FM this morning, Saints had been advised that around 4000 would turn up and so that is what they planned for but apparently 10,000 turned up and so that caused long queues for the turnstiles and they had to open the ends to facilitate the numbers. I would imagine the stewarding would have been for 4000 too so it is little wonder they were looking harrassed! Saints could only take guidance from LFC on this. Should they have this arrangement again Saints will no doubt include some flexibility to cope with a greater number of speccies than suggested by LFC but so many may have turned up out of curiosity or indeed just as an excuse to go to Langtree Park!

As a Utd fan

That's brilliant. Given the amount of footballers that watch league I'm surprised that there isn't more comment about the good quality of our playing surfaces compared to football. Ours are like carpets to their municipal efforts e.g. DW, The Swamp.

By the sounds of it, If Liverpool Reserves played Everton or United Reserves, we could get a huge crowd. I would prefer the occasional match played at Langtree Park, rather than a full time deal.

When hey played at Warrington there was a crowd of over 10k for the Liverpool v Man U game, however that dwindled the next season and the novelty had worn off.

A bad winter and the pitch was an absolute disgrace too. As you say, if you could get a deal for the odd game, that would probably work better.

Yes I went to LP for a look simply because the game had been well promoted in both the press and on Talk Sport radio (Hawksbee and Jacobs).

I was expecting to be entertained and impressed with fancy footwork/skill and the rest, but as I joined the massive que to get in I met up with a chap who I used to work with who is an LFC SEASON TICKET HOLDER who said don't expect to much as the u19's had lost 4 matches along the way and were lucky to still be in the competition.

I must admit I spent most of the match talking with a chap sat behind me who had been going to watch the Saints for more than 50 years,,,,,,Van Vollenhoven et al


I stayed to the end unlike most of the 'faithful' who legged it with 20 minutes to go just as the 4th Ajax goal went in,,,,,

I learned a valuable lesson that night that modern day Super League rugby even when you are on a losing streak is still a roller coaster of emotions and has been for me ever since I got to watch my first live game 28 years ago .

As for football I can take it or leave it.


Regards, Jock