Dr Tim Whatley

1) London Broncos (first RL team I saw, many happy memories of Griffin Park and The Stoop) 2) Hemel Stags (local team) 3) Brisbane Broncos (first NRL team I saw)

It has got a great market though...

Serving Budweiser at nearly six quid a pop is probably a good way of deterring people from drinking at the game.

Official now. Make sure that alarm clock is working! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/49459743

Steady on! Part of the appeal of RL to me is that I can have a beer at my seat! I'd say I'm looking forward to a few tomorrow, but finding a decent drink inside Wembley is usually a bit of a challenge... Alcohol within view of the pitch is banned at all football games down to at least League Two (not sure about National League, but it is definitely ok National League North/South. Alcohol free areas are certainly a good idea though.

Decent bit in the Metro (London version) today, with LMS's London connection being the story. Says he has about 90 friends and family coming so he's doing his bit to boost the attendance! Also a small bit about the final moving to July.

They couldn't move the final any further back this year due to the Euros. Not just that they are taking place in June and July but that UEFA would want sole access to Wembley for a week or to beforehand too. Then once you are in to May, you've got the Football League Playoffs (L2 is on the May 16th, the other two divisions the following weekend) This feels like a good move. Hope it pays off.

Any recommended books on this topic? Appreciate it is a big old one, but is there anything approaching a definitive text on it? Alternatively, anything on the Super league war?

Oh for sure, I'm saying this with 20:20 hindsight. Some really exciting times when the League One membership (anyone else on here have 'Gold Membership at the club? ) but once that division was expanded it all went downhill.

Great shout. And the answer is surely 'no'. some good memories of those first couple of League One years, but long term i don't think it has been good for the club.

Popped in to this thread as I've totally lost what has been going on with Hemel lately. The heady days of 500-odd at Pennine Way really do seem a long time ago! Just seen this on the Hemel website - having BJ Swindells as co-coach is a good sign in terms of bringing the club back to its local roots http://hemelstags.com/club_info/latest_news/article/56407/bj--liam-take-charge

Nostalgia is a funny old thing isn't it? I support Southend United and we had this shocker in the mid-90s. It was widely panned then and I still hate it (back-to-back relegations didn't help!) yet over 20 years on, people claim to love it. Did people like that GB shirt back in the day? all this said - I agree re the training kit and am looking forward to my tracksuit top arriving today. For once I'm hoping CC Final day isn't a scorcher so I can wear it at Wembley

https://www.rugbyleagueontv.com/ suggests it will all be on the BBC. Whether that means on an actual channel, behind the red button or streaming only, we shall see!