Leyther_Matt

Speedway did cross my mind but I wasn’t sure. Suppose it underlines that a fairly unique name doesn’t necessarily mean greater brand recognition.

Could have been a lockout at Moor Lane and we’d have had priceless FA Cup-style footage of local urchins climbing trees to get a glimpse of the action.

Tbf domestic ice hockey has pretty much got a monopoly on Elite League and it doesn’t seem to have done much for their visibility

5,944

Weirdly I was thinking about this yesterday. Don’t forget the RU Premier Premiership only arrived after football started using the Premier League branding post-Carling Premiership, and all of those are predated by the Stones Bitter Premiership!

Keighley a class above. Would have had 60 if it weren’t for missed conversions. Attendance 835. Feels more than that tbh.

I once had a similar encounter walking down the canal in Leigh when I was wearing a Hibs shirt and a guy walked past wearing a Hearts top.

Imagine what it would have been if the tries were converted!

I'm going to take advantage of the Crusaders choosing to play on Saturday's and go to the game tomorrow. Very much looking forward to it.

But only if they play second fiddle to Swinton

For what it’s worth, I was pleasantly surprised at how many Leigh and Fev fans stayed on after the main event to watch the second game. Having the early kick off seemed to help that compared to 2019 when the Widnes section was empty during the Challenge Cup and then filled up for their game (with a much smaller gap between the two games IIRC?) All that said and, again, probably for another thread, but for the 1895 as a competition I do feel it would be better served as a standalone final near the heartlands. Admittedly that would effectively be recreating the Northern Rail Cup, but that was a competition that actually worked within its own sphere and there was certainly a lot of people upset at its abolition.

I went to the NZ game, was in the most expensive area along the touchline and it was such a poor view that I didn’t bother with the Australia game. Went back afterwards for football so was behind the goal in the Bolton end and wasn’t any better. And how on earth anyone copes sitting in the upper tier every other week is beyond me. No wonder West Ham fans were rioting when they moved there.

Please avoid all mention of the Olympic Stadium or you’ll be reminding the RFL/SL of it’s existence. Like a modern day Don Valley.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Tottenham experience, but in 2019 I certainly didn’t dislike Wembley either, albeit probably because I’d never been to the new one was probably comparing it to the industrial estate predecessor. The cheap seats on Saturday certainly didn’t seem to be anywhere near as daunting a height as the ones at Wembley, and our £55 seats behind the sticks were fantastic. The much heralded biggest bar was a bit of a letdown when they resorted to selling cans, but I suppose that would have been par for the course at Wembley anyway. Keep the cup at Wembley - making sure to work with them to improve the event as much as possible - but make sure there’s space in the calendar for England games at Spurs/Arsenal on a bit of a rotation. Of course a date for next year would help…

My main takeaway from that is blooming’ ‘eck, how much food did you have?! We had breakfast in O’Neills near St Pancras at half 8 and didn’t eat again until a Burger King on the train back at half 7 The food in the ground did look amazing tbf. And those Spurs fans mustn’t be a thirsty bunch as I doubt they’ve ever seen anything like the ‘biggest bar in Europe’ in the South Stand behind reduced to selling cans 10 minutes before the second game even kicked off!

On the subject of Saturday’s music, can we all just take a moment to remember the introduction of “the legendary Alex Simmonds” in the gap between the two games. That was most certainly my cue to go and queue at the bar.

I had done a bit of research beforehand and, having done the St Pancras-Seven Sisters-White Hart Lane before the game (about 9.30am but dozens of Leigh and Fev fans making the same journey, gambled on Northumberland Park-Tottenham Hale-St Pancras after the Wigan game and it worked an absolute treat. Was in the Euston Flyer for 17:45 when I expect many will have still been queuing at White Hart Lane and/or Seven Sisters.

Complete with questionable alternative lyrics as is par for the course with that lot

But it’s so good (so good, so good!)

He should have played and refereed at the same time like the teacher in Kes.

Huddersfield end was clearly block specific behind the sticks but fair play there seemed to be plenty in the 70 quid seats plus the top tier. Loved the stadium on the whole. Great view and facilities. Unfortunately even their long reputed biggest bar in Europe couldn’t cope with the thirst of rugby league fans with most draught beer supped within 10 minutes of full time of the main game ()

Just watching back on iPlayer. Fantastic day. Really good game too. A ton more mistakes than the game in week one but a cracker all the same. Not sure if it carried across on telly but a great atmosphere throughout. Waited years to see play on a stage like that.

Away from the pages of mither, hope all those who are going enjoy the day, I sincerely hope @GUBRATSis successful with the coach operation and most of all I hope rugby league is the winner.* *Nonsense. Come on you mighty Leythers Yours, Leigh fan and resident managing to travel to two away games in a week by train

Fingers crossed that's correct!