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Post by kitch on Mar 13, 2024 10:45:14 GMT
It's a free hit this game really. We've done brilliantly to get to 3/4, and nobody will begrudge a defeat against a Wigan team this strong. As ever, if I see pride in the shirt, which I have in bags this season, then I'll be happy. I hope the players feel no pressure and just go out and enjoy themselves.
On another note, I have a friend coming to see her first game. Where should I advise her to park? I normally walk up, and I can't meet her beforehand for reasons to complicated to explain.
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Growth
Jan 18, 2024 13:22:36 GMT
Post by kitch on Jan 18, 2024 13:22:36 GMT
Attendence average last year 5,291 Attendence 2022 4529 COVID seasons are not comparable Attendence 2019 3746 Attendence 2018 2823
Last time we had over 5000 average was 2012.
We are definitely heading the right way! Numbers are improving by large percentages, but from such a tiny base that it's still small compared to the big clubs.
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Post by kitch on Oct 26, 2023 9:03:49 GMT
Hats off to the board, I say. They have adapted quickly to the new reality of IMG grading and prioritised maximising the club's position under it. Just imagine what a club being this well run could do if it had any money. It would be lovely to have a few seasons where we're not walking a financial tightrope. Let's hope the stadium situation and match funding bid come to something meaningful.
I will say this, for all that it hurts to see good players leave when nobody wants them to, and scrabbling about on a reduced budget to make the grade, the pain of nearly losing the club a decade ago dwarfs all of this. When I walked up to the ground for that Swinton friendly just before Koukash emerged, we all genuinely believed that was the end. This was going to be the last match, and the club was about to be wound up and gone forever. Paul King and co rightly put the future survival and sustainability of the club ahead of everything else. The most important thing in sport is that there's always next week, always that hope for the future, and the thought that there wouldn't be for Salford was far worse than losing any player or match will ever be.
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Post by kitch on Oct 26, 2023 8:54:34 GMT
Cust is a very good signing in the circumstances. Wigan are a highly structured team, with little space for individual flair, so who knows what we might actually have got! He might thrive under Rowley and show aspects of his game that weren't apparent at Wigan. He's young too, at 26. Good business given the financial situation I'd say.
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Post by kitch on Oct 6, 2023 18:09:14 GMT
Can I propose Matt Parish as head coach?
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Post by kitch on Jun 5, 2023 18:17:53 GMT
I know what you mean but it’s the sense of jeopardy that really gets people to sign up. The deadline is powerful! If you left it another week most of these late sign ups would come in a weeks time. £368k now! I assume that becoming an owner will remain open in some form forever under the fan owned structure so nobody misses out long term. This is just the initial offer, and is useful to demonstrate demand and resolve for the matched funding. Feels good to be a Salford fan right now. I wish they'd leave it open a while longer!
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Post by kitch on May 30, 2023 17:10:32 GMT
Thanks. So it’s a possible but not a given. Fingers crossed then, that would be absolutely colossal for the club. If invested wisely it could underpin the club for a decade. Or we could sign loads of props. Great news but important we all keep the message going that £250k is the bare minimum, and every contribution really counts. Another 50-75k could make a huge difference, especially if there is some form of matched funding. Speaking of which, can anyone elaborate on this a bit? I gather this was mentioned at the meeting, some sort of matched funding to add to what we raise. What is it? How does it work? It’s part of the Gvt’s levelling up fund. I’m June the ratio moves to 20:80 so we put £250k in we get £1m in return. Some have suggested that the scheme maximises at £1m so we could have a pot of £1.25m plus whatever else we raise above £250k. We’ve employed a bid writer and we have been given the thumbs up that we are eligible but I’m guessing that’s a joint bid with the Council but assuming we keep all of the funds. Funds through by September
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Post by kitch on May 30, 2023 16:27:54 GMT
Great news but important we all keep the message going that £250k is the bare minimum, and every contribution really counts. Another 50-75k could make a huge difference, especially if there is some form of matched funding.
Speaking of which, can anyone elaborate on this a bit? I gather this was mentioned at the meeting, some sort of matched funding to add to what we raise. What is it? How does it work?
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Post by kitch on May 5, 2023 23:06:15 GMT
What an absolute pleasure that was. Gritty backs to the wall defence wins it again. Sneyd’s short kicking game was magnificent, we stayed disciplined, and every player turned up in defence. We were much smarter in the second half than we were vs Catalans, and that helped keep it fairly comfortable. Leeds got frustrated with it and killed themselves through ill discipline.
We’re not clicking in attacking and haven’t for weeks. I guess a bit too much disruption in the back line, but that’s four in a row we’ve toughed out. Very impressive. With a few key players back we will kick on. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
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Post by kitch on Apr 25, 2023 10:21:40 GMT
This is a very important moment in the club's history. I was expecting this to contain some sort of caveat, like a 49% residual share for another entity, like Bundesliga clubs have, but as far as I can tell, this is 100% fan owned. The principle of one share no matter the size of the investment, and one-vote-one-share means every fan's voice is equal, rich or poor. It's a quite remarkable socially equitable model, and goes far beyond what I was expecting.
It is a risk, but so is doing nothing, and I commend Paul King and the board for their bravery and lack of egos in attempting this.
My mate who is a Leeds fan is intending to chip in on principle. He thinks all clubs should be run like this and is willing to back us to succeed.
I would go as far as to say that if we make a success of this model, it could ultimately transform rugby league in this country. This is an experiment that a lot of other clubs will be watching very closely, and if it works could be the catalyst for major positive change in the game. The game as a whole would benefit hugely from this being a success. The number of clubs who have a moment in the sun with a rich owner, and then struggle terribly when they get bored or die or sell up is high. It's a rollercoaster ride, and this model offers stability. What will Hudds do after Ken Davey? What could clubs like Bradford be with this kind of model?
I will be investing at the end of May as I'm a freelancer, and after a couple of bad months, have a run of good work coming up then!
Up the reds.
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Post by kitch on Sept 12, 2022 12:38:31 GMT
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Post by kitch on Jul 17, 2022 17:17:49 GMT
That defence for the first fifteen minutes of the second half was where the game was won. Absolutely brilliant, determined, honest stuff. Catalans were the team that tired in the sun rather than us. Our fitness and conditioning must be excellent. An extremely satisfying victory.
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Post by kitch on Feb 20, 2022 18:45:54 GMT
Attendance 4003. I’d say that’s pretty damn good for zero away fans and horrific weather. A step in the right direction for sure.
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Post by kitch on Feb 20, 2022 18:10:24 GMT
That was a bloody good afternoon’s entertainment.
Brodie Croft with the moment of real class to slip through the line. A very good kicking game throughout. Sio obviously man of the match for four tries, but King Vuniyayawa was outstanding for me, real commitment in every carry.
We had a determination to entertain despite some of the worst conditions I’ve seen at a match. Lafai doesn’t entirely understand wet weather rugby yet but he looks like he’ll be a real handful on a dry track. Brierley scoring under the sticks was a feel good moment.
A slight wobble either side of half time when we got away from the game plan but the rest of the game we were outstanding against a poor Toulouse side who didn’t make a single break. Both their tries were off grubbers. Referee gave most of the fifty fifties to them and we still won easily.
Had a moment of shock when I noticed Bovril wasn’t on the menuboard, but they had some anyway. Obviously the rugger lot don’t drink it. Also amused that the 13 seconds of solidarity were announced and then skipped because the conditions were so awful they just all wanted to start.
The rain was so bad towards the end that the crowd around me started to spontaneously laugh at it. Missed out on the uncle joes mint balls in the half time draw by one number.
A lot to be pleased about. We look solid, committed and full of ideas, and players look like they’re expressing themselves. Akauola looks like he’s lost a lot of weight but didn’t quite find his way into the match. Hopefully just a blip for him. Looked a good crowd for the fixture given the weather too. Not seen the numbers but surely 4000+?
Cheers
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Post by kitch on Aug 14, 2021 10:25:27 GMT
Attendance is key. I think Paul King came up with a stat at a previous meeting as reported here that we've only exceeded the 6000 barrier something like 5 times in the last 140 games. We can't make plans to develop to somewhere bigger, or expand Moor lane until we're regularly nudging capacity there. Frankly, we need to almost double our average attendance to fill Moor lane, so that has to be the first goal, and then we can talk about what next. Everything else is irrelevent until we're seeing at least 5k every game and a bunch of sellouts each season.
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