Absolute rubbish. All of it. Except that league is the best game. But the rest of it is rubbish.

Expansion will happen when someone with money is given the opportunity to make it happen.

The most likely scenario is a bunch of people in Birmingham (or wherever) getting together, forming an amateur side, and that amateur side finding a backer with deep pockets to take that further.

But we just wont have a professional side 'organically' grow from amateur to semi-pro, to fully pro. It has never ever happened in the history of our game.

Except Hemel. and Skolars. and Scorpions.

That's not an argument. If you disagree, make points, supported by evidence. If you convince me I'll change my mind. I was at the SRL semi final, Exeter v Loughborough at Cheltenham. Felt pretty 'national' to me.

All those are semi-pro. None are, or are even close to being, full time pro.

Agreed.....I'll be interested to see what imwakefieldtillidie comes up with here, probably nothing.

They are as close to FT Pro as the Crusaders were/are , and yes the OP was about SL , but the sport is about much more than SL alone

This is mental even for you. How on earth are Hemel, Scorpions or Skolars anywhere close to being as close to FT Pro as Crusaders are?

Whats even more idiotic is you have spent ages arguing how when Crusaders were in the lower leagues they were spending money over and above the set SC on full time players like Duggan, Mapp, Dalle Cort, and Hannay. Now apparently they werent even as close to being as FT pro as Hemel Stags.

There is as much if not more infrastructure and local support for Hemel,Scorpions or Skolars than there was for the Celtic Crusaders

As regards the current Crusader incarnation , they are a plastic RL club with little to nothing behind or ' underneath ' them , they are as relevant as the old Gateshead experiment , and will probably end up in the same place

You mean infrastructure like for coaching, facilities, youth structures, marketing and development? and support like visibility and you know, people attending games? Maybe you would like to explain to us all why you think the Coaching, facilities, youth structures, marketing and development at say London Skolars are as good if not better than Crusaders? Maybe you would like to show us all how the visibility and attendances of say, Hemel Stages are as good if not better than Crusaders?

Except for their link with the scorpions and their youth teams of course

Hull?

"Gateshead" are one of the few success stories of Superleague. Top half of the table first season and then a successful relocation to the best stadium in the league. They are now one of the best supported teams in the league and one of only a few to play in a grand final.

Gateshead is actually proof that a well run and flexible organization can make Rugby League work rather than the usual idiots that run our game. Unless I am miss understanding you post and you infact are trying to say the Birmingham Centurians may work?

Which shows you know nothing at all about the shambles that was the Gateshead SL club, or the exceptional work of volunteers who kept semi-pro RL in the NE, or indeed the calamity which a more recent incarnation of Gateshead wad, until a new generation of NE volunteers, with a new and top-notch RFL development staff have rebuilt.

The infrastructure and support/marketing in Bridgend was pathetic , you had the locals living within kicking distance to Brewery Field either totally ignorant or downright anti in their opinions of the RL club , the attendances were bulked up with German tourists,armed forces and RU fans let in for free , it was all a sham

As for the Wrexham experiment , well very early days as yet , they are pulling in some impressive crowds , how many was there against the mighty Leeds Rhino's ?

regardless of your opinion on the matter. You have stated that their infrastructure, support and marketing were comparable if not worse than Skolars, Hemel, and Scorpions. You are still failing to back up your point.

A damn sight more than Skolars, Hemel and Scorpions.

What have their attendances been like against Leeds ?

They have been better than Skolars, Hemel's or Scorpions attendances.

Why is Leeds v Crusaders attendance relevant? Leeds havent played Skolars, Hemel, or Scorpions so there can be no comparison.

So why did you make it ?

Well that's a lie.

The Crusaders have a good set of talent coming through - linked with South Wales Scorpions, North Wales Crusaders and have recently set up some youth teams. They are doing a lot for the future of Wales RL and a lot more than Gateshead did.

North Wales Crusaders are currently on a tour of Wales and are playing two games at amateur clubs. I saw them play against West Bank Bears on Sunday and they were very unlucky to loose by two points in the last minute.

The locals really enjoyed the game too so I'd say the Crusaders are doing quite a lot

I didnt.

You did.

For reasons you have yet to explain, you decided (somewhat bizarrely in a conversation about whether any club has made the jump from amateur to semi-pro to fully pro) to state that Hemel, Skolars, and Scorpions were [ias close to FT Pro as the Crusaders were/are[/i and also stated [iThere is as much if not more infrastructure and local support for Hemel,Scorpions or Skolars than there was for the Celtic Crusaders[/i

Ive simly asked you to justify those statements, something you have failed miserably to do.

He's insane.....

The Boulevard???

Yeah, bloody awesome ground.


You don't find 70's writing like that everywhere.

Oooooooh a copyright pic.

I give it less than ten minutes before that gets removed

But so many Sooooperdoooooper league clubs didn't!!!

They were just put there!

Should Championship clubs come through the amateur leagues? Or should they just be put there? How many came through each route?