Hopping Mad

Hull FC Hall of Fame inductee Chris Davidson, a scrum-half who, after making his debut in 1964, played 295 games for the Black & Whites, scoring 86 tries.

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Wigan's obituary: https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/02/18/in-memoriam-bill-francis/

Wales Rugby League's obituary: https://wrl.wales/rip-bill-francis

I daresay Cas draw some support from beyond the town boundaries. But for a community of just 45,000 residents to provide a 10,170 sports fixture attendance is remarkable. Unique in Britain?

I was at Headingley and, amid the din, didn't hear the announcement. Couldn't find it on Leeds's socials.

St Helens' digital programme, 'Saints and Proud', for this evening's (16/2) season-opener against London Broncos. It is free to download. https://www.zeeon.co.uk/gamehubplus/st-helens-v-london-broncos

20,014 at this evening’s Hull derby.

According to the club website, Leeds Rhinos will have only 250 copies of their Ignition Sports Media-produced 'Blue & Amber' programme, a 48-pager (£4), for sale on matchdays at Headingley. A postal subscription service - £75 - is available. It covers the club's 13 Super League games, along with any Challenge Cup ties and play-off fixtures. Individual match copies (£4, plus P&P) are available, also through Ignition Sports Media. https://www.therhinos.co.uk/article/19896/guarantee-your-collectors-edition-of-blue-&-amber

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Warrington's 2024 programme will be on online, although printed copies (£3) - and a season's subscription (£70) - can be ordered through Ignition Media, which puts it together. https://www.ignitionsportsmedia.com/collections/warrington-wolves

Former Crosfields, Liverpool City, Huyton and Warrington loose forward Albert Heesom, 81. https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/february/Obituary-Albert-Heesom/

Confirmed by Karen (I'm sure you know, behind the scenes, the role she fills), who tells me the cover price will be £2.

On the off chance anybody gets excited about digital programmes, this is Thatto Heath's 16-page, free-to-download offering for this afternoon's Challenge Cup third round tie with Featherstone Rovers. More than Rovers can manage! https://www.flipsnack.com/5A5DBEFF8D6/match-programme-2024-dtjepk16rh/full-view.html

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Stanningley aren't doing a programme - "unfortunately", they say on Facebook - for Saturday's Challenge Cup tie with Wath Brow Hornets. But a teamsheet will be available "on admission" (£4). Suggests Stanningley - reliable issuers, generally - will have a w/a programme at their National Conference League games.

Such a distinctive, enjoyable voice (Jayston) - heard in numerous TV ads of the 70s and 80s. Did loads of audio books, too, apparently.

Never noticed this thread ... until now. Looks like fun. Sight in my right eye is slowly returning to normal, eight days after cataract surgery. Took 14 months from referral to lying on a NHS operating table. I had cataract surgery on my left eye in 2016. Then, the gap between referral and surgery was five weeks! No hanging around in 2021, mind, when my left eye suffered retinal detachment, which is treated as an emergency. Seven days of post-op 'posturing' isn't something I'm keen to repeat. Don't know why, in my 50s, my eyes have been letting me down because, otherwise, my health is pretty good.

Swinton-Widnes 1,006.

Be interesting to know if Batley Sporting Foundation (assisted by Batley Independent Supporters' Squadbuilder Association), as last season, plans to produce printed programmes for selected Batley home games. BISSA tells me (5/2) it hasn't heard anything from the foundation about 2024 programmes. Free, photocopied teamsheets were available (according to socials) at Doncaster yesterday. No indication Dons are repeating last season's experiment of a 'season' programme/brochure. I picked up a copy at Doncaster last year - and surprisingly good it was, too. Bizarrely, though, on the day I attended, Doncaster made no obvious attempt to sell it. It wasn't available either in the club shop or on the concourse; only from the ticket office, which didn't have any on display (they were in a box, out of sight, on a back shelf; I had to ask). And, of course, the ticket office wasn't open for post-match sales.

Swinton's programme (£3) for this afternoon's (4/2) 1895 Cup game with Widnes. Produced, once again, by Swinton Lions Supporters Trust rather than the club.

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NCL amateurs Lock Lane issued an eight-page programme (£3, included with admission) for their Challenge Cup second round tie with Edinburgh Eagles.

Looks like this will be available at every home game therefore, effectively, a programme. Plugged as a 'programme' in the club's hospitality blurb ahead of the 1895 Cup game with Widnes on February 18.

If the Barrow-Oldham tie were on the Sunday, I'd be going. Can't see me coming over on the Saturday (too many football options).