16 replies to this topic

[northamptoncougar]

Press Release


Northampton Demons Showcase @ Sixfields.


On Sunday 29^th July Northampton Demons will stage two Midlands games at the Sixfields Stadium against league opposition. Showcasing the strong link between the amateur community club and the newly established professional side The Northampton Rebels the Demons invite all potential fans to come spectate on what promises to be a special day of Rugby League action. At present both Northampton Demons 1^st grade and Academy sides sit proudly at the top of their respective leagues and will be aiming to continue their winning streak. With the 1^st grade playing against Gloucester who will also be entering a new professional side into the Rugby League Championship 1 this match add’s a little extra spice to the events.

The Northampton Demons and Rebels are committed to working together to establish the sport in the region and feel a taste of what is to come in 2013 will be an ideal way to grow links within the community. Demons Chairman Gary Campbell commented “we are in weekly contact with the Rebels as they build for 2013 and are extremely grateful to them for giving our club and players the chance to show off their talents on such a great platform, we feel that by inviting all of our fans down to the stadium we will show the Rebels the potential of the sport for the future.”

Rugby League is a fast paced hard hitting high impact sport and Northampton Demons take pride in their defence as much as their attack, these games promise free flowing running Rugby with a little extra bite.


Fixture @ Sixfields on Sunday 29^th July

Northampton Demons Academy VS Telford Raiders – 1pm KO

Northampton Demons First Grade VS Gloucester Warriors – 3pm KO


For continued updates and information please visit www.northamptonrl.co.uk

[Ellery13]

Just got back to the UK recently from a couple of years away, so apologies if I'm off the mark with these comments.

Dont want to sound negative but I cant help but think the whole Northampton Rebels situation is worrying. With the extent to which Northampton Demons have distanced themselves (best way I could put it) from the RL community in the Midlands, leaving only one club to feed/support the Rebels. And lets be honest its not really turning up trees in terms of performance or development, you hear the same old "but were developing players" nonsense but everybody knows its just the bigger, faster and stronger kids getting an opportunity.

And to the Rebels, no coach in place, no players signed to my knowledge and a poor perception of the situation from potential players and people who understand the game from further a field. Worrying times!!!!! Lets look at the facts that are against the Rebels

1. one feeder club (Leicester and Nottingham no chance of supporting)
2. player supply, non exsistant. the best clubs in champ 1 might pay a retainer of 6K per season to a quality player. Rebels will probably offer at best £250 per game, add to that 3 sessions and a match day per week to players who might want to travel from northern based areas. £250 might just cover fuel. train any less that that and your dreaming. sorry to say but players kicking around the midlands are a million miles off champ 1 except for a few (even with the forthcoming drop in standard).
3. duel reg a possibility, but if the majority of the team is duel reg it would take a switched on coach to create a positive environment/culture, and somebody with those skills would not be messing around with the rebels.
4. back room staff? assistant coach? S&C? Are the rebels going to get the cheque book out? probably not in the first season.
5. supporter base? poor support equals negative return on investment equals no money to pay good players equals poor results equals poor support.

really keen to hear others views/opinions

Good luck for the double header.

[EdinburghExile]

The Demons aren't meant to be a feeder club, they're a separate club in their own right. I'd imagine they'll largely follow what North Wales did this season with open trials, and a squad supplemented by dual reg and a couple of experienced old heads brought in.

The club will hopefully stimulate further development in the area as well as showcasing the sport to a new audience and giving a new pathway to players from the Midlands, as well as providing year-round facilities use for the football club.

[northamptoncougar]

I know I'm biting here but can you explain the "distanced themselves" part?

As for a support network, if there are any apsiring RL playing within the midlands then the Rebels now are their first option with Hemel just further down the road. I'm not privy to the Rebels daily workings but I can say that I have been told things are in place and are committed to a successful Northampton Club.

The Demons themsleves have their very first super league player currently starting for the Bronco's with many others spread through out the country at the likes of St Helens / Salford and Sheffield so I think the development bit is way off.


Exile is right, the Demons are their own separate club, their fate does not go hand in hand with the pro side.

[Marauder]

Just got back to the UK recently from a couple of years away, so apologies if I'm off the mark with these comments.

Dont want to sound negative but I cant help but think the whole Northampton Rebels situation is worrying. With the extent to which Northampton Demons have distanced themselves (best way I could put it) from the RL community in the Midlands, leaving only one club to feed/support the Rebels. And lets be honest its not really turning up trees in terms of performance or development, you hear the same old "but were developing players" nonsense but everybody knows its just the bigger, faster and stronger kids getting an opportunity.

And to the Rebels, no coach in place, no players signed to my knowledge and a poor perception of the situation from potential players and people who understand the game from further a field. Worrying times!!!!! Lets look at the facts that are against the Rebels

1. one feeder club (Leicester and Nottingham no chance of supporting)
2. player supply, non exsistant. the best clubs in champ 1 might pay a retainer of 6K per season to a quality player. Rebels will probably offer at best £250 per game, add to that 3 sessions and a match day per week to players who might want to travel from northern based areas. £250 might just cover fuel. train any less that that and your dreaming. sorry to say but players kicking around the midlands are a million miles off champ 1 except for a few (even with the forthcoming drop in standard).
3. duel reg a possibility, but if the majority of the team is duel reg it would take a switched on coach to create a positive environment/culture, and somebody with those skills would not be messing around with the rebels.
4. back room staff? assistant coach? S&C? Are the rebels going to get the cheque book out? probably not in the first season.
5. supporter base? poor support equals negative return on investment equals no money to pay good players equals poor results equals poor support.

really keen to hear others views/opinions

Good luck for the double header.

I'll echo most of this.

I hope the kids running round the country make it but most are just used as cannon fodder and don't under estimate the standard at the present championship 1 teams.

[bowes]

Just got back to the UK recently from a couple of years away, so apologies if I'm off the mark with these comments.

Dont want to sound negative but I cant help but think the whole Northampton Rebels situation is worrying. With the extent to which Northampton Demons have distanced themselves (best way I could put it) from the RL community in the Midlands, leaving only one club to feed/support the Rebels. And lets be honest its not really turning up trees in terms of performance or development, you hear the same old "but were developing players" nonsense but everybody knows its just the bigger, faster and stronger kids getting an opportunity.

And to the Rebels, no coach in place, no players signed to my knowledge and a poor perception of the situation from potential players and people who understand the game from further a field. Worrying times!!!!! Lets look at the facts that are against the Rebels

1. one feeder club (Leicester and Nottingham no chance of supporting)
2. player supply, non exsistant. the best clubs in champ 1 might pay a retainer of 6K per season to a quality player. Rebels will probably offer at best £250 per game, add to that 3 sessions and a match day per week to players who might want to travel from northern based areas. £250 might just cover fuel. train any less that that and your dreaming. sorry to say but players kicking around the midlands are a million miles off champ 1 except for a few (even with the forthcoming drop in standard).
3. duel reg a possibility, but if the majority of the team is duel reg it would take a switched on coach to create a positive environment/culture, and somebody with those skills would not be messing around with the rebels.
4. back room staff? assistant coach? S&C? Are the rebels going to get the cheque book out? probably not in the first season.
5. supporter base? poor support equals negative return on investment equals no money to pay good players equals poor results equals poor support.

really keen to hear others views/opinions

Good luck for the double header.

I've heard roughly the same. Though I don't expect to hear much good about the Rebels in Coventry anyway as the Rebels haven't exactly enamoured themselves.

[Bedford Roughyed]

The rebels also have other clubs just down the road in Bedford and St Ives for example. So it's not quite right to say they will only have one club to 'feed' players from.

[Ellery13]

My intention is not to offend anyone, I'm simply making observations but I should explain myself.

I know I'm biting here but can you explain the "distanced themselves" part? The perception of the Demons across the region is poor at best, every time I hear a comment about the club its a negative one. The culture of the club needs addressing.

As for a support network, if there are any apsiring RL playing within the midlands then the Rebels now are their first option with Hemel just further down the road. Fair comment but realistically any up and coming player (youth) would not play champ 1 until 22 years of age on average, where do they go from the ages of 18 to 22? They will not run an academy due to costs but a returning player might take a punt on the rebels, fair point.
'm not privy to the Rebels daily workings but I can say that I have been told things are in place and are committed to a successful Northampton Club. Maybe committed but without players signed and a coach in place at this point is worrying.

The Demons themsleves have their very first super league player currently starting for the Bronco's with many others spread through out the country at the likes of St Helens / Salford and Sheffield so I think the development bit is way off. I would have bet my mortgage on that response, nothing to do with being athletically superior at an early age therefore rips it up. Will Lovell case in point, dont worry the game in general makes this mistake. Please dont think having a few players going off to pro clubs is good development. you want to see good development get yourself to medway dragons, 100's of kids, loads of educated coaches and a great culture in the club. If your coming back on this one please give a detailed explanation of what "development" means to you.

Exile is right, the Demons are their own separate club, their fate does not go hand in hand with the pro side. Yes pretty obvious that one, your missing the point. Clubs in the rebels situation will only survive if theres strong community clubs to support them in terms of players and supporters.

Good luck with the double header

[Marauder]

The rebels also have other clubs just down the road in Bedford and St Ives for example. So it's not quite right to say they will only have one club to 'feed' players from.

Good luck and if it all comes off and Northampton start bleeding you of your better players I'll guarantee your tune will have done a complete U turn within 3 years.

Edited by Marauder, 19 July 2012 - 08:38 PM.

[Ellery13]

totally agree Marauder your bang on with that comment. I know people in the north west who are walking away from the game because pro clubs are selling the dream to kids, ripping them out of the community game to make the numbers up on scholarship and when they get cut walk away from the game.

[northamptoncougar]

Maybe this is the problem with the game as a whole. The club is trying to show a bit of positive news and it's gets high jacked and slandered by people who have spoke to people who spoke to people about the club without ever witnessing it for themselves.

Examples of the 10 northampton volunteers that gave up last Sunday and worked all day to help with the midlands origin don't need to be noted as its a place with a bad attitude.

RL's biggest issue has always been itself land this is a prime case. I won't bother commenting further as it'll no doubt turn into a free for all. Sad and disappointing really, I wish we could all pull in the same direction as a sport, we might actually get somewhere.

Anyway - all are welcome on the 29th. Come support the sport in the town and see a group of hard working players who have trained for the last 5 months play on a big stage.

[EdinburghExile]

Hear hear. Nil carborundum ab illegitimati.

[chuffer]

Maybe this is the problem with the game as a whole. The club is trying to show a bit of positive news and it's gets high jacked and slandered by people who have spoke to people who spoke to people about the club without ever witnessing it for themselves.

Examples of the 10 northampton volunteers that gave up last Sunday and worked all day to help with the midlands origin don't need to be noted as its a place with a bad attitude.

RL's biggest issue has always been itself land this is a prime case. I won't bother commenting further as it'll no doubt turn into a free for all. Sad and disappointing really, I wish we could all pull in the same direction as a sport, we might actually get somewhere.

Anyway - all are welcome on the 29th. Come support the sport in the town and see a group of hard working players who have trained for the last 5 months play on a big stage.

spot one mate......just ignore the negativity

the attitude of some people is astounding...."can't have a pro side setting up near us bleeding all our amateur talent".......these people would like nothing more than for our local lads to stay playing grass roots rugby until they're 50....."where will our professional players come from?" you may ask.......well australia of course

[jannerboyuk]

spot one mate......just ignore the negativity

the attitude of some people is astounding...."can't have a pro side setting up near us bleeding all our amateur talent".......these people would like nothing more than for our local lads to stay playing grass roots rugby until they're 50....."where will our professional players come from?" you may ask.......well australia of course

what made me splutter was the comment somewhere that the pro club will be 'tapping' up amateur players. well so they bloody should!

[tim2]

Of course the pro sides take amateur players - where else would they get them? I think what a lot of people who run amateur clubs are not happy about is the way the pro clubs treat both the amateur clubs and the players themselves. Examples:

1. Signing players and not having the courtesy to even inform the amateur club, let alone thank them
2. Not being honest with players who are there to make up the numbers in the reserves and academies and then discarding them off-hand
3. Scholarships have been a real source of conflict and still needs a proper resolution that allows players to fully take part in their amateur club training and fixtures

Having a performance pathway is very important to a successful sport but it isn't the be-all and end-all. Growing the base of the pyramid is vital and developing amateur clubs, where the real work of recruiting and developing young players is done, should be a priority of the professional game. If they can't manage this because they have to worry about staying afloat at all, then the RFL must do all they can to make the amateur-pro transition as smooth as possible. I would have a centralised system of educating scholarship players on what their chances of sucess are, how important their amateur club is and what will be expected of them to achieve success and to encourage them to stay in the game if they fail at pro level.

[northamptoncougar]

Please see the link below. A bit of a debacle at first but hopefully relations can be rectified in the future

http://www.northampt...wcase-sixfields

All are still welcome to watch the game - same times at Bugbrooke RFU on sunday

[bowes]

The one amateur club who wants something to do with them and they do this to them.