Yes.
And no sound system there!

I have said before the passion, loyalty and commitment of the fans I mix with at Chelsea (and I suspect other football clubs) is unrivalled by any RL club.
That's where we need to get to.....! How is the question!

One point though, although much louder and more often, the singing is still fragmented at home games with different pockets of the ground making noise at different times. It is by no means a continuous, unified wall of sound. At away games it is - which reflects what happens with the Bulls support really.

Odsal is never going to be a "singing" ground unless they put a roof over the terraces. Even at peak there wasnt much singing, largely because the demographics of the crowd didnt suit it ie lots of male teenagers = singing, lots of families = non singing. Despite that the atmosphere at Odsal was enjoyable, albeit in a different way to other grounds.

I dont really think that there would be much to be gained from increased marketing spend at the moment. The benefits of marketing follow on from a feelgood factor on the playing side. Not so much success in itself, more the prospect of good things about to happen as in 1996. During the Bullmania era very few, apart from the toddlers, went to Odsal just for the pre match entertainment.

It's not by any means just the singing though - far from it. It's just my opinion, but my view is that constantly overriding the normal natural shouting with loud music is what's decimated what used to be a much more vociferous atmosphere.

And I'm not trying to oversimplify, either, I'm not suggesting it's just that, but I do believe it's a very big factor.

I've never thought of that before but now you point it out, it's very true.

Interesting article. Such a lot depends on the OSV. If it comes off it will remove the financial millstone but if it doesn't...

Even if we had a brand spanking new ground tomorrow it would take time for the crowds to come back. A successful 1st team is critical and I can't see that happening until our academy lads are starting to come through, that's some years off yet.

I just hope we've a club left when they're ready.

That's a massive gamble to put all your hopes on a bunch of kids who might not make it is a bit silly.

A new ground, IMO, does mean increased crowds, even if for only a season. It's the "come and see" factor. Also, more modern facilities might see more families returning to Odsal as they no longer need to worry about their kids getting hypothermia in the Bradford "sunshine"



But I agree, the survival of the Bulls hangs greatly on the outcome of the OSV/stadium redevelop or a move to VP. TBH the choice of VP or no rugby club in Bradford is no choice at all.

No it isn't, look at Wigan 2008 for instance. Or teams like Man City, Leeds Utd., even our good friends at VP. No doubt it's a very helpful factor.




If you mean, IF we turn out to have a handful of gems, good enough to be in a challenging for honours side, they will only be a decent sized nucleus in a few years? Well maybe. But they don't all come out of an oven on a "ping", they are gradually blooded and slowly over a period of time become increasingly established.

It is this process which is the start of any ultimately successful SL team. Of course there's no guarantees - everyone is trying to do the same - but in my view the current crop bode well for the future and we have more reason to be optimistic than many teams.

But this is why at the start of the year I was going on and on about us being some years away from aspiring to the mantle of THE top team again. Yes on paper we have a decent squad, and probably few would argue that it should not have done a sight better, but it was never a challenegr for Best Team and won't be next year either.


Sure. There are ways to promote a feelgood factor at any club, regardless of results. Perceived performance being one of them. In terms of doing the right things to keep the faithful happy, we are failing badly and that's why many are disenchanted. They see some players apparently not being arrsed, and then they read written admissions from players in the press that indeed this is the case.

If for example we were exactly where we are now in the league, but had ONLY played the entire Academy/Reserves throughout and they had, to a man, tried their bollox off, then I reckon many of the disgruntled would appreciate this, and the majority would be fairly gruntled. Just my own POV, but the combination of things are seriously peeing a lot of fans off, and it could be avoided is my point even if we aren't winning everything.

Welcome to the NT. You will like it here!

On occasions when your blood pressure is lower, I think you probably realise that the claim that all the PT ever do is post positive spin and smoke and mirrors is very far from the truth.

PT were not the initials I used, they were af.

In any order.

Those clubs don't suffer from the same level of supporter apathy as Bradford. Without a successful team I can only see us mirroring the levels of support at Hudders at best, they too have a smart new ground yet it's not meant they've pulled in regular 5 figure crowds. Good marketing and a successful side are key, I'd say that we, more than most, need a side that's finishing in the top 4 at least.

[i...and I can't see that happening until our academy lads are starting to come through, that's some years off yet.[/i

That's because our best prospects seem to be aged 16-19 and are some way off first team selection. Sure some will progress quicker than others but it'll be a few years before any make it through. At best we can hope for two first teamers to come through each year but that's in a good year.

[i ...I just hope we've a club left when they're ready. [/i



A slogan I've seen on info coming out of the club lately is "building for the future". I reckon the club needs to really start peddling this line a bit more and perhaps be a bit more bullish about the future. I agree totally with your analysis in the two paragraphs above.



I'm happier seeing the club invest in the juniors more as if you look at Leeds it's clearly the path to ensure a sustainable long term future. The key is to find a balance so the current first team isn't allowed to wither on the vine too much. That's my main concern, that we're over concentrating on juniors to the detriment of the first team. Top players have been replaced by average ones and we're reaping the "rewards" of this strategy. Ideally we want to bring our youngsters into a fairly good 1st team enviroment and we obviously don't have that at the moment, it's a worry.

The thing is though, why not? Reverting back to that old chestnut, on paper, it should be amonst the best environments, shouldn't it? As I understand it, our whole setup is (apparently) one of the best and most attractive for the top young names to sign for, (however much anyone might sneer at that, the proof is in the signatures). And when you have the likes of Menzies, Morrison, Newton, Lynch to mentor you? I agree it's a worry, I'm just struggling to understand why.

And now, the M62 beckons.

I may be some time.

As mere fans I doubt we'll ever know for sure, we can only speculate.

And now the Leeds to Skipton train beckons!

I'll sithee!

Yep, I keep coming across this too. And I agree, lets shout about how and why we're building for the future.

Do we have a 2 year plan, 5 year plan?
I hope and suspect so.

If your not in the first team squad as a junior you never get to see these players.

That's been my accusation for a while now.

you are concentrating to the juniors my ..how many players have you brought in this season? how fickle are your supporters?? makes my heart pump !!!!

sure was an empty away end at the willows tonight compared to what you bought in recent seasons!!!!250 max from bratford tonight!!!tut tut perhaps a large percentage of your so called fans have deserted to the main principle town in your area!!

Or maybe they didn't want to drive 50 miles to pay the best part of twent quid to stand in the cold drizzle and watch their team put in another pi$s poor performance? I did though, maybe my loyalty is my downfall, because I've been disappointed more often than not this season.

I haven't been to an away match in Lancashire on a friday for about 3 years. Nothing to do with performances son its getting across in time.

Especially on a bank holiday friday going along the M62. Queues.

Ok we could wax lyrical about what an innovative style of rugby they are playing

After Bradford you must be talking about Huddersfield

I thought it was decent turnout from Bradford, especially in the circumstances. Without getting into arguments, it was hardly jam packed with Salford fans was it?