I agree why not play the last match against Swinton on Wednesday 21st December 2011? This would then be exactly 110 years to the day of the first ever match? Plus the players are back in training at this time so I couldn't see it being a problem. It could also be treated like a pre season friendly for both clubs.

Unfortunately i think you'd end up with a nearly empty ground

Not if the match was hyped up as the last ever game at the Willows with a real historical significance.
I'm sure if it was advertised and marketed properly with enough notice to all the schools and local businesses it could potentially be a sell out. Maybe the club could persuade some Salford born musicians (Russell Watson? etc) to do the match entertainment? Another idea is to do a pitch parade of famous Salford born people? and a pitch parade of former Salford Reds legends?

Didn't we get 6,000 for NL1 game v Swinton in 2008? Seem to remember a local business sponsored the match to hand out several thousand free tickets to local kids! Also remember Salford drawing a big crowd of about 12,000 in 1979 when it was the club's centenary game.

I think fans will attend irrespective of who the opposition are because it will be the last ever game at the Willows.Its got massive potential.

So have you all been convinced a new stadium is going to be built?

ill believe it when I see it. I think the RFL will take the same stance.

What planet have you just arrived back from?



Contractors have been working on the 40+ acre site now for the past 5 months remediating (leveling) the land with about 25 earthmoving digger trucks. The main construction contractor will be announced within 1-2 weeks and the actual building work is scheduled to start in the middle of next month.

This must rank as one of the most embarrassingly uninformed troll posts I've ever read on this forum.



My sympathy if you have just been released from a long stint in solitary confinement.

I doubt this will happen. Its just a fraud to try and convince the RFL to waste another 3 year licence same as Wakefield.

Points and Laughs.

A Welsh representative team would be nice considering the long list of players from ' the valleys ' who have graced the willows over the century.

Some fraud . . I'm told it's already cost 4m for the remediation work against a 3 year licence thats worth about 3m?

Going to be a very sad me, my whole family history evolved around Salford/the willows (from both my mum and dads side). Both my parents met at the willows and we have all made great friends through the club. I'm sure everyone has there own special memories, and a lot of people will be sharing them throughout the coming season. Since I've been alive watching the reds has been the greatest thing that has happened to me. Who care if we haven't been the greatest team in the world in that time we've enjoyed some good wins/performances at the Willows. The season hasn't even started yet, but thinking to last game is already bringing a lump to the throat.

Its now time the club moves forward and I'm looking to the future with a massive amount of optimism. Hopefully we'll get the same amount of enjoyment out of the City Of Salford Community Stadium as we have out of The Willows saying that its going to be hard to get even close.

So for the last year at The famous old stadium lets get the atmosphere back like I remember in the mid nineties as I was growing up. Lets make this season a celebration of the place many of us call home regardless of how well the team are doing IMO that's just a bonus!!

"Take me home Willows Road"

Quality

the first game i actually remember going to was wire at home 1997 it was on sky i had been before then but this was the earliest 1 i remember.... it has been a 2nd home to me i have played on there for college a great pitch i remember my dad sittin me on the red bars at the club end the steward came over and told me to get down (stll makes me upset to this day) i hope every game next year is going to be a carnival atmosphere and the opposing team hate playing at the willows as we make it a intimidating place by getting behind our team its goin to be an emotional day the last home game

Warrington at home next season will most likely be on Good Friday as we played at their place this season on that date and we tend to alternate the bank holiday fixture between both venues.

I agree with the comments about playing one of the franchise clubs. This will give us the opportunity of filling the stadium with Salford fans and give the marketing dept the opportunity to capture the data for 9,000+ who will hopefully attend from 2012 onwards.

The Willows is one of a dying breed of old fashioned stadia and I would expect a good following from most super league clubs fans who will be following their club for the last time at this venue.

after the last game ,who ever we play ,i feel we should be able to go onto the pitch and take a peice of the grass home ,or one of the seats from the stands ,the rugby post should go to one of our local ametaur teams ,langworthy or folly lane , the toilets to the priecient ,coz\ they always seem broken ,whenever im on there shopping , the old scoreboard should be found a place in our new stadium ,at one of the bars or whatever , the turnstiles should also go as well or at least one of them ,also feel there should be a buy a brick ,where you can have name in the new ground ,or a loved one ,who is no longer with us ,

they should put a marquee on the pitch after the game and have a jolly good drink with the players on the pitch as a send off after the game

anyone know when the fixtures are out?

its normally after the internationals

WHY DONT US FANS HAVE THE LAST EVER GAME AT THE WILLOWS WHEN THE FINAL WHISTLE HAS GONE ,AND THE PLAYERS HAVE DONE THERE LAP OF HONOUR , THEN WE ALL HAVE A GAME , SIMPLE ITS OUR HOME ,LETS END IT ON A GOOD ONE

Quote ="salfordsno1"WHY DONT US FANS HAVE THE LAST EVER GAME AT THE WILLOWS WHEN THE FINAL WHISTLE HAS GONE ,AND THE PLAYERS HAVE DONE THERE LAP OF HONOUR , THEN WE ALL HAVE A GAME , SIMPLE ITS OUR HOME ,LETS END IT ON A GOOD ONE'" Something similar to this www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h3hpuJc ... re=related The shed vs The rest of the Willows

Quote ="salfordsno1"WHY DONT US FANS HAVE THE LAST EVER GAME AT THE WILLOWS WHEN THE FINAL WHISTLE HAS GONE ,AND THE PLAYERS HAVE DONE THERE LAP OF HONOUR , THEN WE ALL HAVE A GAME , SIMPLE ITS OUR HOME ,LETS END IT ON A GOOD ONE'" Something similar to this www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h3hpuJc ... re=related The shed vs The rest of the Willows

after quins the other year i will give this one a miss

When my club left the Boulevard we had New Zealand for the last match, game finished and they performed yhe haka in all 4 corners of the ground. Half time was a ex players Hull FC v GB a chance to see so many legends and bring back so many memories.
Pre match we were treated to a montage of previous highlights on the big screen.

But whoever you play make sure you get there for the most emotional night.

And take the tissues because there will be tears at the end. I know I just wanted to remain sat on the terraces at the end with my own memories

France is a good call, especially as they won't be in the 4 Nations.

Could be a good warm-up for them before the European Nations Cup (or whatver it's called), not that they shopuld really need a warm-up game for that?!

The more I think it about it, the more I'd love to see us take on the Aussies. Would be an excellent opportunity for some of our young players to step up and prove themselves, plus, it doesn't matter whether we win or lose as nobody would really expect us to win. All that would matter, would be both teams playing some magical rugby and sending the old girl off in style.

When you compare next years Salford to this years England team I don't think we'd fair that badly. Patten is probably a more natural FB than Tomkins, Broughton is quicker than any of the England Backline, if Holdsworth was English I'd like to think Brown wouldn't be anywhere near the England 17, Paleaasina is near unstoppable on his day, Gibson is a far more intelligent player than Atkins, I'd take Cashmere over Griffin anyday of the week, Sidlow can be a real handful on his day, plus we've got the power and pace of Vinnie Anderson to come in.

I'm possibly wearing Salford tinted glasses here, but I've said all along we've got some quality players at the Willows, but the team isn't as strong as some of it's individuals. It also highlight SL teams reliance on Aussie players and how far behind the times our coaching is.

England will be looking for a warm up game though. Would provide the same opportunity for our young players, without the threat of a pasting.

You know what, I like your thinking. Salford v Australia, The Willows, October 2010... Hmmm.