Manchester Reds anyone ? Jack has just posted this on twitter. do you think he knows something ?????

I like it, its got a ring to it!!

Whilst it would upset the majority of salford fans ( we've discussed it enough times and the forum has self destructed ) would being a manchester team attract all those Greater manchester residents who have gone to watch Wigan/ saints instead?

Does the name of Salford put them of coming due to the negative association of the city and it's residents?

Who really gives a toss! if it means we have a rugby team to support then I really don't care if were called the 'Baby Barton Carebears'!

Your in a very small minority. Well based on here anyway

This is a very sensitive issue for the few true Salfordians and I fully share their pride in Salford but . .

If you asked 100 people who live within the city of Salford where they are from how many will reply Salford and how many will say Manchester? I would say that over 90% will say Manchester, now ask the same question to people from Warrington, Hull or Leeds etc. The reasons that people from Salford would say Manchester is because it's bigger, more identifiable and Salford is a place that is viewed negatively by others.

The point I'm making is do people from other towns and cities have a higher percentage of folk who are more patriotic and supportive about where they are from? And does this hinder Salford City Reds when trying to grow it's fanbase?

Jack has tweeted again in answer to say he was referring to Manchester thunder netball team who have just changed their name NOT Salford Reds

As someone who is from neither Salford nor Manchester...


No name change. What, exactly, would it achieve? Are the people of Manchester and the surrounding areas really going to turn up and watch rugby league just because the club is called Manchester? Are they buggery. Would they be more willing to turn up and watch a team called Salford that's actually successful and well run? I'd say so, more so that just because of the name of the club.

Rather than these tired, boring arguments about what the club should be called, we should be concentrating on making the club a success in order to attract new support, not sh*tting all over the club's history.



You're a bit of a bell, then.



I'm intrigued by the highlighted bit.

Totally disagree with your above comment. I reckon 90% would say they're from Salford not manchester. The 10% referring to manchester would be the ones who don't reside in Salford anymore like you probably.

Its easy gt. I've only ever had this discussion here and it seems to be an overwhelming no. So I was implying he was in the minority on this forum. I have no idea at all if he is or isn't in a minority out in the real world.

OK... Firstly... I'm not in favour of any name change.

But reasons to change from Salford to Manchester wouldn't be directly to attract support... although indirectly it would. In order to attract support the club would need a successful team, and maybe the feeling is that the name 'Manchester' could put the club in a stronger position for attracting players. It would be tagging onto the names of Manchester United and Manchester City... after all... the Manchester name is associated with a successful sporting brand, and would be seen to have more chance to attract sponsorship and top players from the other side of the world... should that happen the hope would be that people would turn up and watch. It could also go the other way as Sale one tried the Manchester name and it bombed.

I'm also pretty sure that many of those who would initially turn their backs would come back should there be a team of stars on the pitch playing an attractive brand of rugby... although the idea of a new FC United type RL club called perhaps Salford Red Devils would be hugely supported and would to some degree be an exciting prospect and would take many fans with it.

Personally... I would watch a team called Manchester Reds... If only because it's rugby league on my doorstep.

If you ask anyone in Salford who was born and bred there where they are from they would say Salford.
I have never met a more proud or passionate set of people.
Salford City Reds is more than just a name.

This is the biggest myth going.

That's OK thats what these forums are about. What do you actually define as Salford in your 90%? Central Salford or the entire city that covers 37 square miles? The thing is anyone that answers Manchester is technically right because Salford is in Greater Manchester. Probably what I should have said is if 100 people from Salford were abroad on holiday and asked by someone from say Scotland where are you from?, I think 90% would say Manchester. Although I wouldn't be one of them because I always like to give Salford a plug.


Ask people born in Salford where they were born and that would be a completely different answer.

Look at the two biggest cities to play in RL Paris & London anyone who think a name changed would attract more support is deluded. I hardly suspect the people who live in Manchester in areas like Denton, Moston, Mossisde etc are going to come bouncing down to the stadium if we change our name.

It will put the hardcore off coming and without a hardcore you have nothing.

A wining team and good customer service would be all it takes to get the fans down.

Be interesting to know exactly how many Salford fans there is with no affiliation to the City at all.

I'd hazard a guess as to more than you may think.

I'd support the Club in whatever guise they go in for. Salford. Manchester. Salford & Manchester Reds. Salford Sharks. Whatever...

It would still be my Club. A name is just a name, it does not erase its history.

Quality GT, pure quality

As I've just posted on KOTS post I'm born, raised and reside in salford.

BUT

In an ideal world Salford would remain Salford but it's far from an ideal world and given a choice of a slowly dieing Salford RLFC or a Salford based thriving regional team run in a professional manner I know which I would vote for.

Pretty much Salford till it dies then thats me lot.

I wonder just how ‘not amused’ some supporters were in 1879 when someone suggested changing the name from Cavendish to Salford? I can imagine a few bowler hats were thrown on the floor in disapproval.

Of course the fans of Cavendish probably had the same arguments back in 1879...

That's the bit I was wondering about. No worries.





I don't think Cavendish had much in the way of a fan base, to be honest.

The argument about name changes back in the 1800s is a bit of a red herring. Clubs were formed as works/church teams and, as sport developed and grew and the link between those beginnings got less clubs needed to change names. Different times, different reasons.

I still fail to see any reason why a name change would be good for the club, nor how it would jump on the back of United or city.

I don't think a name change would do a great deal either. The only thing I can think of would be sponsors wanting to associate with Manchester instead of Salford. But that is a weak argument anyway, as Salford's profile has sky-rocketed within business circles over the last decade or so. The only name change I could see happening is a changing of the Club's 'City Reds' tag. Which nobody cares about anyway.

Salford Sharks anyone?

I believe a Name change would do nothing but increase the disillusion, Despite what many believe , Salford RLFC is not just a sport for many it's an identity . It's a personal fabric that you wear proudly despite our on field failings. I personally believe I would lose my love for the club if it was rebranded as Manchester , simply because I am a Salfordian who has chosen to support Salford City Reds for nearly all of my life. I have no love or affinity for the name Manchester. I like Manchester as a CITY but for me I wouldn't be happy seeing my clubs 140 year heritage go down the drain,just to try and sound more "attractive" . The only way Salford will be seen as an attractive proposition is by starting afresh NOT in name but in the way it acts,interacts and manages itself . Bring back the family club we once loved, Embrace our history, run with the rebirth of the Devil (which is rightfully our moniker ). Manchester would gain nothing from being associated with until now, a perennial struggler of a RL team, Manchester couldn't even sustain a fairly successful Basketball and Ice hockey team; whom actually would have a huge marketing presence.
Salford as a CITY must have a strong Salford City Reds, The public of Salford deserve a successful sporting team , Civic Pride is the key!

I define the full triangular37 square miles as Salford from Blackfriars to cadishead to Little Hulton, And the people who answer Manchester are indeed technically VERY wrong as Salford isn't in the city of Manchester but in the county of Greater Manchester.