Great. Why not put the boot into another sports club (one that has existed continuously, and with a lot more stability than our own, for many more decades) when they're vulnerable. How few supporters does a rival club need to have before it's acceptable to walk all over them and take advantage of their situation? Tooting & Mitcham United FC isn't a failing club, it's in quite a healthy state, but unfortunately control of the club and the facilities at which it plays appear to have fallen into the hands of a person (or persons) who wishes to feather his own nest. There are a lot of non-league football clubs in the south east with 300 or so supporters - I support one of them myself and empathise with Tooting's supporters, several of whom are personal friends of mine - and if you try to kick them out of the ground they call their own I can guarantee you you'll get more than you bargained for, and rightly so. Don't even think about it.

There's the slight matter of the planning permission clause that means the maximum gate at Imperial Fields is actually below Superleague minimum standards. Also, if people think Twickers is difficult to get to I'd love to see what they think of getting to Imperial Fields by tram on a Sunday.

Hehe....I wish! If I had breasts I wouldn't leave the house!



My point is that London needs to look like the new club (whatever we may be) has thrown up on it! Every possible thing has to have an advert for us on it...and oyster cards are one of them....just not some lame figure like 5000.....given out on the same day at one station....needs to be loads and over a period to build anticipation.

Again....the kit/logo and basic product has to be great...it would be a victory of some sorts in kids who knew nothing of rugby league were getting the shirt a) because it has London on it and b) because it was stylish and looks good.

With both Gus Mackay and David Hughes stating the sponsorship in name angle is there any mileage in having a sponsor in our name such as London Pride that I floated somewhere a few days back. Sponsorship is commonplace in southern-hemisphere rugby union with the sponsorship name being the name at the start of the name, ie Rabodirect Melbourne Rebels, or HSBC Warratahs which is seen at every game at the SFS, or in the league the vodafone Warriors.

In the northern hemisphere we haven't gone down the route of refering to our teams by their mascot, rather than where the team, and in my opinion a sports drink may be ideal, but with Red Bull being the main player we wouldn't want to move from one confusion to become the second bulls in the same league. Gatorade is a relatively small player in the UK market, and lucozade seem to put alot of money into athletics so I'd imagine their budget is tied up in 2012.

The other beverage would an alcoholic one and one that rugby league has traditionally had a strong relationship with, and perhaps one that they should look at renewing, maybe get Keith Hogg back into a Harlequins hat and link up the Scottish and Newcastle Breweries he was involved with.

Remember Harlequins rugby union were known as NEC Harlequins for a time and anything that allows us to build our playing roster and spent towards cap will be a cross worth bearing.

Hell why not become the London Pride Lions, it gives us a sponsor in the name, a return to Fulham colours to match the Fullers beer, a Lion is not a rugby league mascot in SL, Pride is an established name in Australian rugby league, a group of Lions is called a pride of lions and surely pride is something that you want associated with the shirt and the club. Fullers London Pride is made a few miles up the road from the Stoop and only a stones throw from two our former homes in Brentford and Chiswick. Also a Lion is a symbol of Britishness and may allow us to form an alliance with Surrey CCC who have returned to the name Surrey Lions after being known as the Surrey Brown Caps for a few years.

London Pride Lions.

London Pride Lions if we don't go down the London Broncos route

We have an opportunity next season as there will be a dislocation with Olympic break so maybe people will look at things differently instead of their usual summer sporting routine. The London cricket teams are pretty rubbish at the moment. If we can brand 'London' on the shirts, we could sell a lot as no other professional sporting outfit has it in their name. I understand a lot don't want the Quins name to go but if it does happen we will all have to get behind the new incarnation. Blimey, I hated the change to Quins and said in the Guardian that it would not work and got lambasted for it, I got fully behind it but I hate to say I told you so...................

Oh but...our own identity!







You people have seriously warped priorities, is all I can say now.

Calm down dear, hysteria is the right location for you it would seem. Did I say anything about death-riding T&M? No, not a word. Did I say they should be kicked out? No. DId I say we should pick them off and scavenge the bones? No. So calm down.

As it stands the club loses money every year and has owners who seem to have their own ideas about the future. T&M didn't 'fall into his hands' btw they voluntarily got into bed with him a few years ago, and it was the fans themselves who recently decided to overturn their right to block any sale of the ground. They also have no way of increasing funding to the team, so the losses will continue to mount.

All I said was, here is a local club with a nice facility that they are in danger of losing. David Hughes seems intent on moving the RL club again and has repeatedly stated that he would like to own, or at least have a share in, a stadium. RL moving in alongside T&M would make a lot of sense, in the same way that any multi-use facility does, if there is the space to expand the stadium.

Hysteria, indeed!

I second that

, (and may I say a brilliant summary), although I would prefer the nickname The Lions, like Manchester United are just that but also The Red Devils.

Yeah great. Except Fullers haven't expressed any kind of interest in sponsoring a pretty mediocre rugby league team.

And would be unlikely to be able to sell their beer in the Stoop's bars.

So its beyond the realms of possibility that that door, or indeed any other similar door couldn't be opened ? Do we give up before we start on any new proposal ? At the end of the day, ideas are there to be explored and you would hope that Quins Management are doing just that ... or maybe the path of least resistance = London Broncos ?

London Abott's or how about

The Old Speckled London Hen's?

Yeah I'd like to think that we would look to think we would be at least be aspirational and but some feelers out there, maybe a few tenders and proposals that might lead to something. As you say ideas are there to be explored and offers rarely walk themselves through the front door and surely the Quins management are looking at companies that could have a reasonable tie to sport, and specifically league. I wouldn't mind a return to the London Broncos but I feel it is worth exploring ideas before we return to the Broncos, I chose the idea of London Pride Lions as Fullers made a significant profit last year and have stated that they will be plowing that back into their business, but this is the sort of things that someone at the club should be doing if they are serious about getting some extra money in; identify several targets, make sure they have a cash surplus, make sure they work for the sport and us, and make sure they increase the visibility and quality of the brand, etc.

I'm not sure on that one as the contract could be for the Stoop and all events or a copied contract for Harlequins RL from Harlequins RU. Either way I'm sure people would be happy to try a pint of anything from a trailer outside and bring it inside if the price is good. I've had Heineken from a walking vendor the very first game we were Harlequins RL at the Stoop, but I'm certain London Pride would not go down well from keg on someones back, although it would be nice to see those kind of things return to the Stoop.

I'm actually despairing at this thread.

Was it the thought of drinking Heineken that did it ?

As lagers go, I actually really like Heineken.

Lister is more of a Stella Artois Cidre man anyway. Hideous.

Remember that slander/libel discussion we had earlier?

I hope David Hughes isn't reading this. He blows 1 - 1.5 million a year on our entertainment and apparently the most important thing is what alcohol we choose to drink. Puts the future of London RL into perspective really. BTW unless he has moved David drinks in XXXX (not naming it as he probably fancies a quiet drink without getting ear bashed about our name/ground/colours), Madonna's ex local (no it's not owned by Guy Ritchie), and a well known real ale boozer.

What's your point?

Yes Dave we would all like to know what is your point!

I know he is always sharpening it! Are we flogging a dead horse with this Bronco debate?

I think, Harlequins/Broncos should be put down gracefully and with dignity, its not worked, even in the early 80's there was Invicta at Maidstone, that never worked, so we have to be realistic and say that there ia a North/South divide as regards to Rugby, North is League and South is Union. I may sound like a flatcapper, i think i'm a realist.

Jeff

Yes, from a team that do not have their own ground, import expensive aussies and nick owners and players off a team who need them more than they do. nb there are more Sky RL tv fans in London than Wigan. Thanks for your comments.