Magic XIII

They have no youth teams.

Sadly this won't be the case as Brixton u14s have pulled out of the fixture which is unusual so early in the week. St Albans had 4 games scheduled u11 v Brentwood, u13 v Eastern Rhinos / Brentwood combined, u14 v Brixton and u16 v Eastern Rhinos which is incredible given last year the club was running on fumes. We have planned a junior club BBQ to run alongside the games but the Brixton drop out puts paid to 25% of that!

Are you coming up to St Albans on Saturday for the u14s game ? Would be nice to say hello

Well Gutter I prefer to think of Harpenden as South Luton.

Harpenden is the posh side of St Albans !

Sadly neither of my qs were asked - firstly their thoughts on the parlous stae of the junior game in London and the South and secondly as thirty year fan, sponsor, s/t holder, now lapsed, how are you going to convince me (and many like minded others) to return to the fold.

A basic check on Home of RL. 2018 13 clubs equating to 26 teams were involved in one or more 12-16 age groups to some degree; wind forward to 2025, 7 clubs equating to 18 teams are active in one or more u12, 14, 16 or merit. Junior clubs gone - the much vaunted and reason for Broncos to Kent experiment Medway and Invicta, Rutlish, North Herts, Richmond, Sussex Merlins, Surrey Sharks, Southend Spartans and I am sure a good number of others Greenwich Admirals, Charlton Gunners ........ 26 is fantasy.

I agree and I am involved at St Albans. We run u11/12, 14 and 16 which is a miracle given last year we only ran u14 and that was an afterthought and on the verge of collapse. There is now no Open Age at St Albans. To the best of my knowledge the involvment of the RFL at St Albans is (very) light touch and the Broncos (other than running talent pathway events in the area) non existent. As for Hemel players coming to St Albans, why, they are more than welcome but they have their own team at u16.

You are never happy Gutter - come on at least acknowledge it's a step in the right direction

London Reboot maybe .... big announcements today

In my 30 years watching this mob the idea of a plan would be fantasy. One of the reasons I drifted off from attending games a couple of years ago. The Broncos became a rudderless, pointless entity 'run' by David Hughes. Now, if this announcement offers a plan, a vision, I am all in and gives my work at community club level a bit more value.

Any one out there who knows if any league clubs are coming down en masse to Wembley and fancy getting on a u11, 12 or 14 games at St Albans on the Sunday ?

That's based on current rather than potential

You dont get it do you ?

Have you watched any NRL ?

Wigan Academy player

I succumbed - fingers crossed !!!

I am with you. I've seen the heady heights and have always felt I was a proper supporter for years, home and away, good and bad times. But the PL / PT decision was the last straw. I have been to two games in the last two year and one was the final in Toulouse. Can I see myself throwing in £175, I am not sure, but there is a fans forum on Monday next at PL and I will go and see what's said. Please convince me to believe in you LB.

He was and probably remains an idiot. He will have focused his non sense on some other unfortunates now.

Northern RL fans (on the whole)

No idea but whats your point ?

Because all they do when faced with something out of the ordinary is revert to type and make the newcomer completely unwelcome, participation on their terms and love the idea of them failing so they can gloat. Leicester don't need to take a game to Wigan to increase their ot their sports profile, quite straightforward.

The irony isn't lost on me that UK based rugby league fans would be happy for a NRL club give up home advantage for a bona fide competition points and come play in UK 1000s of miles away to entertain them; most of these same fans would be apoplectic if that was suggested of their own club or dare I say travel as far as London or Perpignan or Toulouse.

Last season was the first time since formation in 96 St Albans didnt run an open age but the club still managed to run out u14s side. Next season the hope is u14 and u16 in London League or link up with Midlands League and run u13 and u15 in line with their age group strategy. So the embers still burn but nowhere near as brightly as the days the club ran 2 open age sides and 3 junior sides which feel a lifetime ago now.

His grandson but your point is well made.