Although I agree with the sentiment of your post, you will also see Cardiff go in to administration if they fail to win, with Blackpool getting a season of thumpings if they go up.

I don't agree with the comparison one bit. One of many clubs chasing PL promotion get average gates that are more than the whole Championship put together when P&R to SL was going. While Blackpoo and Cardiff where playing in front of full houses with an atmosphere of pure excitement of what can be, I will remind you of the excitement of my fav example of when we played Batley in 2006 in playoffs for SL - dull atmosphere with spot the fan. With very poor gates during season as well. Football and RL different planets and cannot be compared.

As for tomorrow - I hope its Cardiff as I would hope they play their home games at Millenium stadium - or at least for bigger fixtures. Magic Weekender for football.
Blackpool would be extremely lucky to avoid relegation, and their stadium wouldn't be exactly large enough for big games. Is stadium complete now?

I hope Blackpool win not just because its the tackiest place on earth but they`ve got a manager who has charisma ...........Ian Holloway (top man) ...

Well you make one valid point and that is in this country footie is far better supported than RL.

Tell me' if Wembley would have been filled for this match if whichever team won both sets of fans knew they would not gain promotion ? You do not need to because everyone knows the answer.

Regarding that particular season ie 2006 that is not the point is it ? Hull kr where in the Championship then and 3 seasons before that were drawing crowds of 1400 or so. Now they are the biggest club in the Rugby League world.

Fully agree with everything !

Blackpool to do it. Holloway is one funny chap who plays his part !!

Carling cup, FA Cup, Charity Shield are also sell outs at Wembley. Why do they sell out without promotion to higher competition ? You don't need to answer as well

Football is king in this country. As for a winner takes all match that will see 1 of 2 teams getting promoted - of course there is added interest, there is no argument about that. I was there in 2004 GF.
The point is tho a season is not about just that one game, the bread and butter season still saw poor support for a system that was the be all. How many games in a season overall ? Based on this season we have 5 fixtures per week x 20 weeks = 100 games (aprox), unyet emphasis is on that one game of season that crowds seem to get excited for. Where are the crowds for those 100 games? Something is wrong, and its to do with the value of the championship being so low, and to a lot of people seeing it as not worth watching. And we wonder why clubs have struggled financially chasing the holy grail.
As for HKR their fortunes did change. Isn't that what happens when a club starts to win etc.
But at least we agree about football being better supported, and so using football as comparison to RL is a none starter.

If Blackpool come up at Least the scousers get their ride in an open top bus

Class & so true

Blackpool to win for me OBVIOUSLY ,cmon the Tangerines,we need more life and people in the great Town.

The playoffs create massive interest, excitement with euphoria and disappointment in equal measure but it is all artificial. The third team should have been promoted.
Blackpool finished sixth, they do not deserve to be in the premiership if by some chance they manage to cobble together a result over three games.
The financial significance of this final game is ridiculous when you consider that it can be decided by one mistake from the officials.

I agree with this. Playoffs are great but doesn't seem fair that clubs are not rewarded for their place in the league. Getting 3rd and getting 6th is a big difference - but play offs don't give an advantage at least to the 3rd placed team. Format similar to what we have in RL would be fairer.

Just seen the blackpool fans in thier droves en route down to wembley on the M6 as I came in to work this morning....

Good luck Blackpool

We agree again.

Except Wrea Green is in Preston, really

Hope the Tangerines can do it today , and hope they stay up to be honest , know it will be a mammoth task for them to do that but the more Northwest clubs in the Prem the better

Must have moved it then Matt, as ive beenloads of times,even watched cricket,on Wrea Green,about 300yards from Ribby Hall.Congrats to the Tangerines, chuffed for Jimmy Armfield,the REAL Charlie Caroli,willhave a smile on his face ,up there.

[url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=wrea+green&fb=1&gl=uk&ftid=0x487b6a0554da43ff:0xb3cca1b1cf062920&ei=qVT4S7X0BJT20gSx9JzqBw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCAQ8gEwAAThere you go[/url



On a RL related note, I hope the donkey lashers getting promoted doesn't affect Bloomfield Three Stands hosting the NRC final.

Well well. Who would have thought it? Blackpoo in PL. Just goes to show that football has its faults too, because it doesn't seem right that 3rd placed team has same route to final as 6th.
Not been to bloomfield Rd since NL Cup - they had big stand down side which extended behind the goal, small stand down other side of pitch and behind other goal no stand. Is it still same ? 12,500 capacity is not very good , so you would hope at least a temporary stand would go up. Won't be going to this away game as tickets will be impossible get.
Enjoyed game, and Blackpoo fully deserved it today. Just can't see them staying up, but hope they give the lads that got them up a chance.

Great stuff for Blackpool and for the game of football, unlike this ball and chain sport of ours Blackpool have risen like Hull, Wigan and Bolton from the basement of football to reach the holy grail. Sadly in the greatest game of all NO club can do this due to the draw bridge being drawn up in 2008.

I might support the franchise system if it actually delivered what it was supposed to do :-

Youngsters promoted from within ALL clubs and not just the top ones like the last 120 years.

Less overseas players, theres likely to be more playing in the 2010 season than the 2008 season.

Clubs not going bankrupt, not many actually went out of exisitance prior to franchise so maybe thats a like for like.

The expansion of our great game.

More people watching the game, not just the in SL.

If or when (hopefully) the franchise delivers any of the above I might just support it.

I ask many friends about rugby league and try and entice new ones but when they ask about promotion 100% of them shake their heads and say thats crazy!!!

Enjoy your day I am off to watch my team as I always will!!

A Cat can look at a Queen but in the land of RL they dare not purr at her.

I agree entirely with your comments no relagation/promotion no incentive no interest.

Some years ago rugby union and cricket did not have any. Now they do and how this has changed their sports.

This was an unusual, becoming more frequent, backward step by RL which many people (inside and outside our game) think is daft.

Quote ="Leyther_Matt"Except Wrea Green is in Preston, really '" Surprised you never used this link www.afcfylde.co.uk/the-club/future-plans.php We're planning for 2022 already

Quote ="Leyther_Matt"Except Wrea Green is in Preston, really '" Surprised you never used this link www.afcfylde.co.uk/the-club/future-plans.php We're planning for 2022 already

Told ya Matt,Geography not your strongest subject?

[url=http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/the-club/directions.phpFrom the same website[/url