23 replies to this topic

[Snoopy Loopy]

Says in today's observer that Mayfield have applied to enter the Championship, the set up up there is very good now (look at it compared to Oldham)

Could we end up with two Rochdale teams in the Championship?

[Mad Mal the Mauler]

With the RFL's intended expansion of Rugby League to all parts of known Universe I doubt that two new clubs in any town or city would be a definate no no? Personally I'd love to see it happen but I'd also love to win the Euro Millions and I'd get about the same odds?

[PooingDog]

With the RFL's intended expansion of Rugby League to all parts of known Universe I doubt that two new clubs in any town or city would be a definate no no? Personally I'd love to see it happen but I'd also love to win the Euro Millions and I'd get about the same odds?

Some one who knows more about these things than me sent me some info (and I'm sure it's correct)

The Championship will consist of the stronger of the Current Championship and Championship 1 Teams on the proviso they meet the Criteria in all Areas not just some and show they are able to operate in the Black etc.

Championship 1 will consist of the weaker Teams from the Current Championship 1(London Skolars, Gateshead, etc) and 1 Representitive from each Amateur playing area (eg Wigan - Wigan St. Pats, Wigan St. Judes, Ince Rose Bridge - 1 Team will be selected from the 3 to represent Wigan, Oldham - Saddleworth,Waterhead, Oldham St.Annes - 1 Team will be selected to represent Oldham, Hull, Leeds, Cumbria, etc,etc.)

The Teams not selected for their Geographical Area will go into the Conference Leagues under the Championships in Geographical Areas (Similar to what Rugby Union does with their Amateur Leagues !), North West, Midlands, Yorkshire etc.

All these are determined on the Criteria each Club has (Similar to entry into Current Conference League) to develop the game etc in their Area !.

So Theoretically in say 5 Years Mayfield could be playing in the Championship if they meet the Criteria for that Division (Highly Unlikely, but who knows.)

There was some talk a while back that the RFL proposals for restructuring the Championships should be "signed off" by the end of March but I've not heard any thing yet.

So Mayfield could find its self in the C1 in the near future, they have the facilities. I'm not sure any other local clubs would qualify, I know Oldham St Annes have thought about it but they'd have to spend some money to qualify.

[Pugwash]

I just can't see how it would work really.

Hornets are doing everything they can to try and get people through the turnstiles and as yet the results are showing signs of going in the right direction but only very slowly. If Mayfield did get into the Ch One what sort of crowds do they expect they would attract? For the league Mayfield are in they have marvelous facilities but I think they would need serious improvements to the spectator areas if they were to succeed. Could this happen?

Wouldn't the best way forward to be closer ties between Hornets, Mayfield and the Cobras at all levels and set about getting as many Rochdale lads as possible playing for the towns teams?

Get lads in school, bring them through the U12, U13s, etc until they get into Open Age rugby, pick the best of the bunch to go semi-pro with Hornets and then recycle back to Mayfield et al to go into coaching, scouting, etc when they drop out of the smi-pro game.

I couldn't afford to watch both Hornets and Mayfield and I think many others would probably be in the same boat.

I just wish the RFL would tell us what they intend to do instead of the continuous drip, drip, of information that seems to be happening.

How many teams in the league under Super League?

What criteria must be satisfied.

How long will the franchises be?

Will extra funds be made available to teams that drop out to stop them just disappearing?

Pugwash.

[Anita Bath]

"What criteria must be satisfied."

I think we know RL crieria is absolute mythology (If we are allowed to criticise RFL on this site).

If they had ever applied the criteria they stated they used for SL Knowsley Road would never have hosted a SL team (never mind Wheldon Road and that tip in Wakefield). And dont get me started on teams in London and that Gypsy caravan in Wales.

They decide which teams/places they want in and then make sure the criteria can be identified and applied to produce that list.

[PooingDog]

Puggy, I don't think it's intended to be a Championship at the same level it is now. Clubs wouldn't be charging£12/£14 to get in. I think they afre expected to opperate on a lower level, semi pro with the emphasis firmly on semi, charging a fiver to watch.

I don't think the RFL would promote Mayfield to the C1, not because they couldn't compete or stay in the black or because they don't deserve it, but because they'll put teams in from Blackpool or Chorley or London or Nottingham or some where else they are trying to expand the game.

Mayfields facilities would be more than adequate for a lower intensity C1, they have flood lights (that work), an enclosed field and seating down all one side of the field which is more than the Biffs have and they can compete in the C1.

I just hope that Hornets have done enough to get into a restructured Championship, not just on the field but off it too.

[Hornets Nest]

For sure this is an interesting one. I agree that crowd size maybe a problem bit the positives are, Mayfield would get the six figure sum from the RFL as Hornets do but the difference;

No £2 k a game to play
Profits from the bar
Less stewards on less money
Car Park profits
Outside income generated from the use of the ground
Function profits
Very well run by RL people
Low cost fire in the kit room

Good debate

Mark Reynolds

[Snoopy Loopy]

More info:

Mayfield for the Championship?

[Karen88]

I just can't see how it would work really.

Hornets are doing everything they can to try and get people through the turnstiles and as yet the results are showing signs of going in the right direction but only very slowly. If Mayfield did get into the Ch One what sort of crowds do they expect they would attract? For the league Mayfield are in they have marvelous facilities but I think they would need serious improvements to the spectator areas if they were to succeed. Could this happen?

Wouldn't the best way forward to be closer ties between Hornets, Mayfield and the Cobras at all levels and set about getting as many Rochdale lads as possible playing for the towns teams?

Get lads in school, bring them through the U12, U13s, etc until they get into Open Age rugby, pick the best of the bunch to go semi-pro with Hornets and then recycle back to Mayfield et al to go into coaching, scouting, etc when they drop out of the smi-pro game.

I couldn't afford to watch both Hornets and Mayfield and I think many others would probably be in the same boat.

I just wish the RFL would tell us what they intend to do instead of the continuous drip, drip, of information that seems to be happening.

How many teams in the league under Super League?

What criteria must be satisfied.

How long will the franchises be?

Will extra funds be made available to teams that drop out to stop them just disappearing?

Pugwash.

Wouldn't the best way forward to be closer ties between Hornets, Mayfield and the Cobras at all levels and set about getting as many Rochdale lads as possible playing for the towns teams?
That will never happen and you know it my friend

[Mad Mal the Mauler]

It's bad enough voting to go to a summer season as far as I'm concerned as next year Hornets should be running a second team reserve/academy which will undoubtedly play on Saturdays that will mean Mayfield supporters like myself won't be able to watch both teams on the same day. That would also apply if they were successful in an application to join the Championship. Either way it may mean a drop in attendances for one or both clubs???

[Snoopy Loopy]

I'm all for a reserves/academy Mal it was a worthwhile venture when we last had it,unfortunately the costs involved meant it had to be scrapped,can we afford it now?- don't they call it u23s now?halifax and a few others play in a mini league at the moment I think

Just thinking though if that clashes with Mayfield games where would this u23s team play it's games? There is nowhere I can think of that is upto scratch

[Mad Mal the Mauler]

Can't argue with that as to where they'd play, but I'm pretty sure all Championship 1 clubs will have to have a second string in 2012? The cost is another factor that maybe only a generous sponsor could help with?

[Anita Bath]

It's bad enough voting to go to a summer season as far as I'm concerned as next year Hornets should be running a second team reserve/academy which will undoubtedly play on Saturdays that will mean Mayfield supporters like myself won't be able to watch both teams on the same day. That would also apply if they were successful in an application to join the Championship. Either way it may mean a drop in attendances for one or both clubs???

Completely agree but then the suggestion did come from the RFL - we should know better. On today's BBC website Lewis suggests the solution to Harlequin's pitifully low attendences is to have a second London team in Super League!!!!!!!

Can somebody please tell me I am dreaming? Perhaps if we had 14 London teams they'd get attendences bigger than Arsenal eh? What are bthese people smoking?

Clearly they are working hard or making sure the weighting of the criteria for SL franchises is such to make sure attendence counts for nothing.

[arabella]

Completely agree but then the suggestion did come from the RFL - we should know better. On today's BBC website Lewis suggests the solution to Harlequin's pitifully low attendences is to have a second London team in Super League!!!!!!!

Can somebody please tell me I am dreaming? Perhaps if we had 14 London teams they'd get attendences bigger than Arsenal eh? What are bthese people smoking?

Clearly they are working hard or making sure the weighting of the criteria for SL franchises is such to make sure attendence counts for nothing.

On the other hand, maybe there could be more London teams, put them in there own mini-league, and save our people a long journey

[PooingDog]

But then you would struggle to maintain promotion/relegatipn to and from the Championship.

What if a northern team finished bottom of the Championship and a southern team won promotion from the Championship 1?

[Pugwash]

Completely agree but then the suggestion did come from the RFL - we should know better. On today's BBC website Lewis suggests the solution to Harlequin's pitifully low attendences is to have a second London team in Super League!!!!!!!

What are bthese people smoking?

It must the sort of stuff they had in Vietnam to come up with an idea like that!

Mind you we went down to London one season and I took George Dodds the Observer writer and a coulpe of lads when they played at Crystal Palace. When George met us after the game he told us that one of the London positions was blank, when he asked why they said he#d just landed in the country and they only knew him as Cosmo!!!

If anyone knows George Dodds you ask him and damn my eyes if it isn't true!

Pugwash.

[jonnyg28]

There was a meeting in Coventry on Thursday night with the RFL for clubs expressing an intrest regarding joining the Championship, Mayfield were not present.

[Anita Bath]

There was a meeting in Coventry on Thursday night with the RFL for clubs expressing an intrest regarding joining the Championship, Mayfield were not present.

I am glad they held it in rugby league country - Coventry! Couldn't they find a room in Kabul?

[jonnyg28]

I am glad they held it in rugby league country - Coventry! Couldn't they find a room in Kabul?

The RFL are obsessed with this expansion thing.

[PooingDog]

There was a meeting in Coventry on Thursday night with the RFL for clubs expressing an intrest regarding joining the Championship, Mayfield were not present.

Was there any heartlands club there Johnny?

Attendance might not have been mandatory for those closer to Red Hall than the Somerset Pirates.