Bi11

One thing for sure........he will play with great enthusiasm and give 100%.

How do you convert a unionite? Kick him over the crossbar! (sorry, couldn't resist, although the jokes older than me).

A bit of light training might have been the best bet.

WI?

To be fair, Batley has managed to attract more youngsters in recent years and must be doing something right. The biggest problem, as discussed before, is that the local area no longer contains the white working class families that provided the fan base. There have been some excellent initiatives on the club's part but so far we have not been able to attract young support from the immediate area. I don't know whether we can make the club more inclusive; less of a beer and bacon sandwich culture and more appealing to all-comers. It is interesting to note that the Bulldogs in Australia, faced with similar problems, have managed to attract a large Arab/Lebanese following. Obviously I am not comparing like with like, our Australian counterparts were already a more glamorous club than ours and had the advantage that RL was the number one sport in the area. Also I suspect that there is more cultural diversity around their ground than around ours. Still, there might be lessons to learn and ideas to borrow from them.

I first supported them in my student days BSJ. As I recall, if you wore your college scarf then you paid half price at the turnstiles. And no, before you ask, I didn't continue to wear it for the next 50 years. Oddly enough I can remember the price of a pint of beer but not the admission price to The Mount back in those far off days.

Police looking for gang of OAPs after lynching at Mount Pleasant. Now I was always taught not to try and improve my lot by pulling someone else down. Besides, I would say that having paid full wack for 40 - 50 years oap's deserve a discount. If my old age pension of £644 per month is anything to go by then those who rely solely on their old age pension need all the help that they can get. Those that deserve the most help, though, are the people who bring children to the match. It must be made as affordable as possible for families imo.

Jouffret Scott Day

Don't you think that Farrell is looking a bit thick set for the "hooker's" role these days Phil? Like you I am sorry to see him leave but Farrell is out of contract and can go where he likes.

More than a couple by the sound of things.

Very difficult choice, but for getting them on the front foot in the first place I'll go Davey Brambani then eeniy meeny miny mo Day. Which seems unfair on Manning, Cambell, Galbraith and others.

Apparently it was a secret ballot.

Fair comment RPH.

Gates such as we had on Sunday are not conducive to keeping players or attracting new ones. The BOD and those of you that work hard behind the scenes for the club deserve better. I hope we see quite a few more faces at the Eagles game.

Brown Cambell Scott

I have mixed feelings because it's good to see quality players playing in our division and I am glad to have seen players like MaGilvary and Minikin turning out for us. You make some decent points though and loans seem to be a better option than DR albeit that I wouldn't restrict them to just season long loans.

Ainscough and Cowling were injured hence Minikin was invaluable to us. Mariano also played at centre, against Dewsbury, when Minikin was not available, as well as a few games in the pack.

Faz was walking away I believe, but certainly played his part in the incident. I don't know if it's supposed to be a straight red for kicking but I was content to see a yellow card in the circumstances.

Brown Tomlinson Brambani

Day apparently in the 19 (but still no Davey)

Cheers, thank you for the info. It's good to know that it is not as bad as the initial reports suggested.

Any news on Day? It sounded like a season ending injury.

You know when you go on holiday and cannot afford the de luxe 5 star option; and some spend all week moaning about this and that whilst others see the sea and the sunshine. It's not that a bit of moaning does anyone any harm, it's human nature. But those that moan all the time, however well intentioned those comments are, just kill the fun, the interest and the enthusiasm. They don't mean to but that is how it is.

Well, you wouldn't want mass suicide this side of the valley, would you?

I do get your point Fred, but surely attendance figures effect most of the income streams that you mention.