...it has a 500 seater stand. If we are kicked out of SL it would be perfect for us to buy and develop with a view to re-applying in 6 years or so.....but as it is, we need a ground we can grow into.....
wasn't having a pop windy.....and if we could sort out access and 3 other stands, it would be an option of sorts. How much do East Hull pay for the golf stand?

Ah fond memories, it always seemed to rain at Chiswick!

Oh yes..those lovely slippery grassy/muddy banks

How inspiring as usual to read comments from the usual gloom merchants, David Hughes was simply answering a question posed to him, if he had answered no London RL will never have its own stadium the same people would have been whining in the same voice, no ambition!

None of us know the long term implications with The Stoop and Harlequins RU? Every club an business must or should have a long term business plan, not just pipe dreams or also having the safe option all the time as pure existence and no revenue channels other than match day revenue and merchandise.

We seemed to manage quite nicely there for five seasons, albeit in the old second division

Seriously, it would make a good centre for RL development and it could be used for our reserve and junior sides but the cost would be beyond us so the RFL might have to cough up some money there. Incidentally, in our time the seating capacity was 625 - you really can't trust estate agents!

Its a tough call. We would want a ground that we could, as gutters says, grow into. 500 is a pretty low starting number. If we were going to satisfy SL Licensing matters, we would need the planning permission and the finance in place to completely redevelop the site for a capacity of, say, 10,000? Going any lower seems pretty pointless even taking into account our current gates. At the moment it certainly isn't fit for purpose.

You'd never get planning permission to develope the site, hence my suggested use. Also, they're only offering a long term lease not the freehold, which might mean that the University sports clubs having guaranteed access to the facilties.

i think this is a pretty good point. how much do we know about what quins ru want. they may see the rl side as an important part of their brand. granted, it does not seem like it at the moment with the amount of investment they have put into the rl side of things. does anyone know who actually owns quins ru? i had a quick rummage, and couldn't find much, but some pub talk i heard people were saying the ru club ower was an rl fan. i don't know how true it is, and i don't know who owns the ru club, but i would like to find out more to see if there is any truth in it.

What investment do they put into the RL side?

no idea, they probably don't which is why i was asking...

Harlequins FC are as I understand it are co-owned by Charles Jillings, a city gent (resigned as Chairman in aftermath of "Bloodgate"icon_wink.gif and Sydney based businessman Duncan Saville. As far as I am aware neither are RL fans. What their long term aims are only they would know. As for investment I understand they don't although they may have passed up on an option to purchase by the RL operation in the recent past. I'm sure some. nutters will clarify/correct these points and if wrong I will gladly sit corrected.





Seeing as HFC are being paid rent and (I suspect) fees for using the Quins brand plus all the bar/Concession revenues I'm sure they are grateful for the "off RU season" revenue stream.

And if they want the RL operation out of the stoop they only need to jack up the rent to an unsustainable amount at the next re-negotiation.

However a small investment [url=http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/harlequin-football-clubhere[/url would clear up some of the points you raise.

As for the Polytechnic stadium lease, the way I read the proposal was that the owners would look at what a leaseholder would want to do with regarding re-development of the current faciities, notwithstanding the new leaseholders obligation to Richmond Hockey Club.

So for example if an "investor" came along with a proposal to build [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halliwell_Jones_Stadiumsomething like this[/url (and included some new facilties for use by Richmond Hockey Club) as use as a "Community Stadium" at Chiswick for use of locals, the investor and Westminster University sports teams and the planning consent granted that a longterm leasehold agreement (say 150 years for arguements sake) could not be negoiated.

Secondly if the right deals are negotiated the revenue streams to the leaseholder could be maximised for thier benefit as a long term tennant (eg's rent out stadium to Fulham and Chelsea for use of reserve matches/Fitness centre in one of the stands).

All that is needed is a visionary with very deep pockets and the patience to navigate what I'm sure would be a bit of a minefield.

The locals would never stand for any major redevelopment - this is fairly posh country we're talking about here, plus the stand is Grade 2 listed (God alone knows why!) and can't be demolished.

I suppose you could always incorporate it into a state-of-the-art new stadium, a bit like that old rump of Cardiff Arms Park at one end of the Millennium Stadium!

I was under the impression that WE got the revenue from the bars/food stalls on our match days. If not, then we should do.......If I thought that the club were paying rent AND not getting anything back from the fans beer & food consumption I would have never stayed for a post match pint...in fact, I would have turned up 5 mins before KOP and abstained during the game


As for Chiswick.....it would be great if the RFL got involved.......and the club looked at developing it over time, but in reality, I can't see Quins RL or whatever we may end up being called ever doing anything other than rent a ground. The only time Chiswick would be an option would be if we were the unlucky ones chosen to step down this summer.

Sorry my presumption that bar revenues would be part of any rental agreement.



I suspect to put off speculative developers and supermarket chains. I'm sure that there would be some NIMBY's against any re-development but as with all such projects, it's all about working with the local planning authority and being smart about working within regulations and legislation.

As the great 70's politcal rock combo , TRB once sang "Don't take no for an answer".

The stand has been listed for years, going back to when it was barely being used after Fulham left. There has been some work done in recent years, there is now a gym and fitness club stretching out on either side of the stand and the small bit of terracing has been demolished. The cinder track (which my old school used for athletics meetings) has gone to be repaced by tarmac car parking areas at either end of the football pitch. And there are two hockey pitches further on past the main pitch.

It's probably true to say that planning consent would be difficult, but I like the idea of using it as a central hub for amateur / age group RL in London, along with the Quins Academy. The RFL could even base all of its London staff there.

This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf

This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf

Quote ="Hemel Rugby League"This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf'" Why? Since when has Hemel Hempstead been in London?

Quote ="Hemel Rugby League"This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf'" Why? Since when has Hemel Hempstead been in London?

Probably as long as London Wasps and London Irish

Nice one

Fair enough, but how many current regulars at Wycombe Wasps & Reading Irish watched those clubs when they were based in London? "London Stags" playing at Hemel Hempstead may possibly work as a Superleague franchise, but it would essentially be a different club, just as Crusaders are since moving to Wrexham, and would need to build a whole new support base pretty much from scratch. It might suit some current supporters to play there, and some others would doubtless be fanatical enough to follow the club there regardless, but I would imagine only a fraction of the current regular support would be interested.

I'd like to think Harlequins RL, like our union namesakes, will remain a true London club.

if at all possible, yes

Quote ="Hemel Rugby League"This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf'" I always thought teat Stags had there own ambitions to play at some level of the professional game? Surely with The RFL'S Championship expansion plans Stags would be one of those "ambitious" outfits that they would be "assisting" into an expanded Championship competition???

Quote ="Hemel Rugby League"This might be worth considering www.dacorum.gov.uk/pdf/SpatialPl ... Phase2.pdf'" I always thought teat Stags had there own ambitions to play at some level of the professional game? Surely with The RFL'S Championship expansion plans Stags would be one of those "ambitious" outfits that they would be "assisting" into an expanded Championship competition???

According to that document the council want to go with a 5,000 capacity stadium so that it meets both Football League and RFL criteria. Hemel Hempstead Town FC have dreams of reaching the FL, and Hemel Stags have apparently told the council they wish to apply for a licence for the Championship.

are they gonna do a "Franchise FC" job then??