Cliff Spracklen

Bramley now play at the excellent facilities of West Leeds RUFC, Blue Hill Lane.

Bramley Buffaloes in the Yorkshire Mens League continue to produce a traditional printed match programme for all home games.

John sent details by PM. But don't get Newsagent into bother as he is very good and has explained that it he has not received it.

It has not yet arrived in Bridlington yet and it is Tuesday. My newsagent who delivers it is ringing up the distributor again. Usually no problems and I usually have it delivered first thing Monday. Posted this for your information, not complaining.

The merger period was a very bleak period for fans. In all 5 clubs were affected by the process, Hull and Huddersfield being beneficiaries, but the other 3 effectively losing their identity, nay existence. Fortunately the 3 clubs managed to be reformed. But then fans were a nuisance as far as some of our "leaders" were concerned. Fortunately the RFL now has a more positive view as its current support for Supporters Direct shows.

1. Every team playing Leeds (but Rhinos fans still very welcome at Bramley, as I proclaim face to face at games ) 2.Hunslet Old Boys 3. Hunslet (when not playing Bramley) 4. Carpentras, SO Avignon, Catalans Dragons, Toulouse, Lezignan, St Martin de Crau, Montpellier,Corbeil, Bretagne Nantes Vikings, Marseille, Cavaillon Luberon, CS Agip, France. 5. All other French clubs. 6. Fev and Widnes from the golden days (especially the era of Wright, Currier, Hulme bros etc at Widnes) 7. Hull Kingston Rervers 8. Stanningley 9. South Dorset Giants 10. Illawarra Steelers before the merger, (Illawarra-Dragons when in Wollongong), Paramatta 11. Hemel Stags (when not playing Bramley) 12. Welsh clubs generally. 13. Every "underdog" 14. South London Storm.

I take it when you stroke French/North African players together you see them both as French. Before I respond about Aussies/Kiwis I it is worth reminding ourselves that there are many players of Arab or Berber origin, from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Having done some academic research for Carnegie on the subject of identity amongst such players, I can state categorically that they see themselves first and foremost as French, though proud of their origins. This applies whether they were born in France or came to France from North Africa. The more famous players are such as Jamal Fakir, Younes Khatabbi, Amar Sabri, Said Tamghart etc. Some are practising Muslims, some lapsed but all are proud of their roots and Frenchness. The largest number are of Moroccan origin, but there are plenty of algerian or Tunisian origin. In France you have Club chairs, directors, coaches and referees of North African origin, which is an interesting comparison with say Asian populations here. But re Aussies/Kiwis one of the constant arguements in France has been about limiting the number of overseas players, as in the UK. Certain clubs have a long history of bringing in Aussies/Kiwis etc. Pia, a small village of 4,000 inhabitants, near to perpignan has a tradition of Aussie Coaches and players, and buying success in the golden years just before the rise of Lezignan. The Aude clubs of Carcassonne, Lezignan and Limoux hve also usually had a few antipodeans. A The arguement has been two ways. On the one hand it stifles development of local players, on the other hand the presence of Aussie players/coaches raises stasndards. it was felt there might be a further reduction in the number of overseas signings, but the elite clubs voted against it. Instead the Fedweration brought in a complicated formula where clubs can have as many as they like but pay a premium to the Federation on an increasing scale for each extra overseas player. A financial disicentive to having too many. Clubs like Lezignan have always had a strong Junior set up, so they could argue they were doing more than most in development terms, so could justify overseas signings as well. Other clubs development has been patchy. It has improved considerably at Carcassonne but there was atime when it was not so developed. Ditto Limoux. I can remember a time when Pia did not have a Junior team, but it is a requirement for Elite clubs these days, and Pia has had several juniors loaned out to the Dragons Junior programme.. The clubs that have put the most into development besides Lezignan, gave been Avignon abnd Carcassonne. UTC is slightly different as there is now the link with the Dragons. Toulouse have an excellent Junior set up, but most of their Juniors last year, and increasingly this new season will be turning out for St Gaudens in the Elite, under the new St Gaudens-Toulouse banner. There are sometimes difficult dynamics within French clubs, as the antipodeans are ofdten on a contract, whilst the fRench players are on lesser contracts or even match terms. This surfaced at Pia this summer, when Christophe Calegari, who made French call-up squads last year, dropped a division to Elite 2 neighbours Palau, because he thought, 5rightly or wrongly, that the Pia Board was treating French players less well, in comparison with overseas players. But French Elite club budgets have been under threat and there is no sign of this going away, apart from Lezignan who are an increasingly professional operation in every sense. Of course Aussie back packers have a great tradition of just turning up, finding a bar job, and playing for less, which is why you can find the odd one or two below elite level. But it is rare for an Elite 2 club to recruit directly from Oz, and Elite 2 side RC Lescure Arthes Minotaurs, in the Tarn, not far from Albi caused a sensation when they signed Aussie Adam Shaw last season. What you have seen this year are an increasing number of players coming to France from the UK, whether UK based Aussies or Brits. Limoux haveproclaimed their Welsh connection this time round, w3hilst Lezignan Coach Aurelien Colgni has close links to the Crusaders.

Cheers. Such generosity of spirit! Thankfully that's not what makes RL such a warm and friendly family. But best wishes to all teams playing this weekend even yours, which judging by the anonymous nom de plume you hide behind I assume must be top drawer.

Getting warm! "Very few" is a bit of an exaggeration. But there is a steep grass banking, lovely to sit when its warm and sunny. A cracking atmpsphere nevertheless. And excellent bar and parking facilities and a full colour glossy 56 page match programme tomorrow. For public transport served by 16 (Leeds to Pudsey) and 508 (Leeds to Halifax), and reverse. Alight at Coal Hill Lane/Intake Lane junction.

I can categorically and truthfully state that it will be "standing room only" for the Co-operative RLC National Qualifying Semi-Final , at the Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley on Saturday, kick of 2.30pm. So get there early to see Bramley Buffaloes and Warrington Wizards going full on for a place in the Grand Final. Details below in Press Release from Bramley Buffaloes: "Bramley Buffaloes' bid for a sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance faces a tough test this weekend with Warrington Wizards the visitors to the Arthur Miller Stadium on Saturday 11th September (kick-off 2.30pm). Victory would assure Mark Butterill's side of a place at Warrington on Sunday 26th September but the Buffaloes coach is taking nothing for granted: "It's all going to plan. This is where we wanted to be at the start of the season and we hope this is our only play-off match but we will have to be on our guard against opponents who can turn on the style when they have to. There will be no complacency and I hope we get the Bramley supporters turning out in force. "We lost our last regular season game at Huddersfield Underbank and that was a stark lesson in not taking your eye off the ball. This is a fantastic group of lads who are all focused on the end goal and we'll need to maintain that for at least another 160 minutes this season if we are to repeat last year's triumph. "I've been delighted by the progress we've made in what has been a tough season with two teams withdrawing but I feel we've kicked on from last year and a win against Warrington would be fantastic. "We could be facing them again in the Grand Final but we'll worry about that if it happens. My major concern is Saturday and ensuring we get the job done," added Butterill who has no major injury concerns and expects to welcome back powerhouse centre Paul Gledhill back into the squad. -------------------- 2006 National League Three Champions, 2009 Co-Operative Rugby League Conference National Champions

Agree totally. Starting with Bramley Buffaloes v Warrington Wizards this coming Saturday at the Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley, ko 2.30pm, in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National Qualifying semi-final. One versus two and the closest of rivals. Get there early!

I accept that and sympathise but Willie could be made into a bigger story with a higher and wider profile. Will have to get on to Bramley Buffaloes Director Rob Wilkinson, creator of famous straplines like !"Amber and Black Fighting Back," and " You'll Buffalove It" recently appointed to work for John Ledger in the RFL Press department. Here in Brid whilst the taxi drivers are obviously fired up for the play-offs this week, the Rervers amongst them are already talking about next season as a result of big Willie. As a result I could be organising a Rervers Taxi Drivers trip to Perpignan next year. Not by taxi of course. Oh I don't know. If we did we could bring back some of the beers from the Cap d'Ona brewery at Argeles-Alberes, not too far away. The only Catalan beer. They have some beauts!

Thanks. But rest assured I have not retired from life or RL.

Thanks on my retiring from Treiziste Diary As John so kindly puts it in the latest Rugby League World, I tried to retire from my stint at Treiziste Diary a couple of editions ago, the feature on the history of RL in Paris was meant to be my last. But I have popped up again in the latest issue of Rugby League World, with a preview of the forthcoming LER season, including the Magique Weekend at L