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The club do not have much choice with the admission price. Playing an amateur team on a cold Sunday afternoon in January always makes it difficult to attract a crowd. From a Batley point of view Sunday will be a case of not underestimating the opposition and getting the job done. I am looking forward to seeing Catalans at the Mount they have recruited new players during the close season including NRL players. If the game is on Saturday or Sunday the crowd could be ok.

It is not the best draw but it could have been a lot worse. North Wales Crusaders/Bedford Tigers, London Broncos or Hammersmith Hills Hoist away are examples of a worst draw. Batley are at home and Dewsbury Moor are still in the competition needing a ground for home ties if they beat Stanningley. It would be mistake to play the Catalans game on Friday 6th February. Leeds United at home to Nottingham Forest is on Sky on the same night.

If you have got players who want to play rugby league, a ground to play rugby league on and people who want to watch rugby league. I appreciate the financial situation at Featherstone but I do not see how this is the best option. I do not know what the solution is but maybe allowing Featherstone Lions or a Featherstone area team to take Featherstone’s place for the season. I remember the Heavy Woollen amateur team in the late 1980’s including Paddy Lyons, Paul Marshall etc would have competed in the 2nd division of the Championship at that time.

Dewsbury where also the last Lancashire team to win the Championship before the split to two divisions in 1973.

The future Batley coach in December 1985 was Karl Harrison and the former Batley coach George Pieniazek. Karl signed for Featherstone Rovers from Bramley.

Sunday 15th December 1985 Batley beat Keighley at home in front of the largest Second Division crowd of the day 896. Brian Lockwood having taken over the coaches job a few weeks earlier. Teenage centre Andy Williams scoring the winning try. A week later Carl Gibson who had put in a transfer request in November was put on the transfer list which would result in a move to Leeds in January 1986 for £50,000. In December 1985 Which future Batley coach and Great Britain international was signed by a former Batley coach?

When you click on the attached link posted on the 22nd November it advises the draw will be made when 200 tickets are sold. Is there are a link advising how many tickets are left to buy or if the draw is now closed ?

All clubs need to look at keeping supporters. No point buying a season ticket to find out halfway through the season the goalposts have moved or another structure change at the end of the season so the rest of the season the games are glorified friendlies. Some fans have become disillusioned with the game in general. The RFL need to be doing more to help all clubs.

Ben Reynolds is the half-back signing. Batley also struggled last season with the centres. Still waiting to see who James Ford brings in at fullback and in the centres (in addition to Wesley Brunines). Robbie Butterworth last seasons fullback signed for 2026 but I would be surprised if he starts the season at fullback after his displays last season. I thought Butterworth played his best game on the wing.

With the Reynolds ban I would expect White to start the season with Woods at half-back. Not ruling out Ford signing another hooker. Woods is a bit injury prone and Leak is at an age where he is unlikely to play every game so White will play. To win rugby matches you need a big mobile pack with ball handling forwards. I would like to see someone like Martyn Reilly at loose forward who was the loose forward when Batley reached the grand final in 2022. A forward of size with ball handling skills.

Manning, Walshaw, Leak and Ben Reynolds are four good experienced Championship players Batley can build a team around. I would not play White at loose forward due to his size especially if you have got Leak or Parsons at hooker the pack would lack size to me although White did play well previously in the hooker role.

Would not surprise me if James Ford was waiting for the Super League confirmation. Bradford Bulls and York both have a number of good Championship quality players who are not good enough for Super League. Some players will want contracts Batley cannot afford but there will be players James Ford could try and sign.

With the Super League overseas quota increasing from 7 to 10 in 2026 it will be interesting to see what happens to other players that are in the same situation as Aiden McGowan. Good enough to do a job at Championship level but not good enough at Super League level. In regards to recruitment Batley need to wait and see what happens with the applications for the 2026 Super League. London with Gary Hetherington involved and the coaching appointment of Jason Demetriou would suggest that they will get one of the spots. The other two spots could be filled by Bradford and York (although I would not be surprised if Toulouse gets a spot) who will then after to strengthen and recruit new players which will result in players of the quality of Tom Holmes, Jimmy Meadows, Luke Hooley, Jordan Lilley etc…. (good championship players who are not good enough to be first choice Super League players) maybe having to look for new clubs.

The club needs a complete reset on and off the field. On the field - James Ford needs to rebuild the squad from scratch. I would keep Manning, Walshaw, Flynn, Burton, Leak,Moore and Cooper but with every other player it depends on who James Ford can attract to the club. Off the field – the club needs to move back to regular Sunday afternoon kick off times. I do not know why yesterdays game was played on Saturday. I know the seasons dead and the London game was unlikely to attract a big crowd whenever it was played but Leeds United and Bradford City where at home, Huddersfield Town played at Barnsley and the Hull – Leeds Rhinos game kicked off at 3.00. There are other changes to marketing and promoting the club but they have been raised throughout the season. Just checked the latest news on the Bulldogs website and its not been updated since the 8th May.

Butterworth would be the favourite to play at half-back. With the signing of Ott I would assume Leak and Ott will rotate at hooker and Moore will play at loose forward. I am assuming McGowan will play at fullback and Burton, Render or Kear will be on the wings. It is going to take John Kear time to sort out the defence. I am just hoping to see an improvement on Sunday.