If you're at a loose end on Friday evening, Featherstone Lions coached by former Wildcats player Jamie Rooney are playing York City Knights at the Big Fella's Stadium (8pm KO) home of Featherstone Rovers. Admission on the gate on Friday evening is £10 adults, £6 concessions and £3 juniors. Bars and food outlets will be open around the Stadium from 6pm and the 1921 Suite open for spectators.

Jamie who had a successful playing career is looking forward to locking horns with a professional side for the first time in his coaching career and said "It's a big game and something I'm really looking forward to. As a player, I thought coaches had it easy but that certainly isn't the case and I'm sure a few grey hairs are coming through! It's a fantastic draw for us and a big challenge but it's something all the players are buzzing about."

"There's a bit of extra spice there with Ryan Mallinder who is a fev lad and also James Ford being a former Rovers player so it should be a good tussle. It's a big game for our boys and probably will be the biggest game they will ever be involved in for the Lions."

With such a big game taking place in Featherstone, Jamie is hoping that the local community come out in force on Friday and support their local team "It's important for the town that we do well. We have a proven track record of nurturing quality local talent, so hopefully we will be rewarded with a healthy crowd on Friday. Every single player from 1 to 17 is a local lad and we are hoping the crowd can be our 18th man and cheer us on. We have players who could definitely play at a higher level and they are looking forward to testing themselves on Friday."

Jamie also had a special mention for the hosts Featherstone Rovers "I'd like to thank Rovers for hosting the game and in particular their Chairman Mark Campbell. They are allowing us to train on Thursday evening on the pitch and also looking after the players afterwards which will help in our preparation for our big evening on Friday."

How many do you reckon you'll get? Good form by the Fev chairman/club.
Hope you get a good result whatever the outcome.

Not sure if there is a handicap on this game but I can see fev lions running York close / potentially winning.

We're hoping for a healthy crowd to support the lads on. Former Rovers player Keith Bell is involved with the Lions and is looking forward to it!

Tomorrow sees our local neighbours Featherstone Lions take over the Big Fella's Stadium for their Fourth Round Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie against York City Knights. Kick-off is at 8pm and the town is expected to come out in force to support the Lions as every player was raised in Featherstone.

Heavily involved with Featherstone Lions is ex Rovers star Keith Bell who says tomorrow evening will be a very proud one for everyone associated with the club. Keith said "Every single player who will be putting on a Lions shirt is from Featherstone and they've all come through the Lions Junior set up, so it will be a proud moment for us all. One of the aims of the junior teams is to produce Professional players which are successful at doing but it's a good sign that those who don't make it professionally for whatever reason choose to return or remain at the Lions and play open age rugby league.

"We've got a few players in our side who feel they've got a point to prove against Professionals so there is plenty of motivation there to put in a strong performance and we'll go into the game with confidence. It looks like Ryan Mallinder will be returning to their side and I've read he's been made captain but there is also Jake Joynt in their ranks who is a former Lion and of course their Head Coach James Ford so that adds a bit of spice to the occasion!"

Keith Bell who is a member of the Featherstone Lions Committee is hoping for a bumper crowd for the game staged at the Big Fella's Stadium "We expect there will a good turnout of local people supporting local lads and others who will coming along hoping to witness a cup upset. In the previous rounds our supporters have been fantastic. This is this the third time we've reach this stage of the Challenge Cup so we've got some good pedigree in this competition, just like Rovers! It's also important that there is a good crowd revenue wise as it helps us invest in our juniors. There are also quite a lot of expenses running an open age side too such as coach costs to away games so financially reaching this stage of the competition is important."

Admission on the gate tomorrow evening is £10 adults, £6 concession and £3 juniors.