AB Knight
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Posts posted by AB Knight
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12 hours ago, EggFace said:
I really wished the first Ashes test match was at St.James Park and not Headingley
Not to be pedantic but the first test is at neither of those venues
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Best: Mount Pleasant (Batley). As a York (and Cas) fan I’m not allowed to say Headingley but I think it’s impressive what they’ve done there. Bit of a soft spot for Hunslet too, cracking view from the top tier.
Worst: The ‘away’ stand at Belle Vue. Sightlines are awful. Not sure why but I’ve never liked Hull FCs stadium, I kinda feel sorry for the FC fans having to go there every other week after the character they had at The Boulevard. Sheffield’s current ground again has awful views.
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On 26/04/2025 at 18:55, Yorks Tim said:
Favourite - Underbank Rangers for the setting.
Worst - Kippax for the friendly welcome.
I’m interested, what happened at Kippax (I grew up in the village!).
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15 hours ago, Phil said:
But not one of us has done
I know
And not one York fan has said ‘York are nailed on to finish top as one of the best teams the Championship has ever seen, gain promotion to SL, and be SL champions within 3 years.’
All a bit of banter
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13 hours ago, gavin7094 said:
Exactly what have you got against York? Where has anyone been saying these things?
You're obsessed.
A bit like all the Halifax fans saying Ken Davy is going to redevelop The Shay into the Nou Camp/Wembley of the North
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47 minutes ago, Simon Hall said:
West Wales were absolutely bobbins that day though to be fair.
In my opinion they were even worse in the return fixture (only the driving rain kept the score at 130-0).
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17 minutes ago, gavin7094 said:
When York thumped Barrow away, apparently 'Barrow didn't show up". When, the following week, York thumped Widnes, then "Widnes were terrible". Now, Donny had "no heart or pride".
Imagine what York could really do if they ever played well?
144-0 or thereabouts?
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Lazy bookmakers today, every game is 12 points. Though I’m sure at the full time hooter they’ll be counting their winnings.
My prediction, York by 12
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Amazing recovery from Will Pryce, having his spine changed (ouch!) and going straight into the game!
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One final point - KR took 6500 to the 2024 semi, and probably the same if not fewer to the 2023 semi. The opposition for both those games was Wigan, and I guess most people would’ve tipped Wigan in both games.
With that in mind, you could say Catalans are weaker opposition this time around and some KR fans will save their money for Wembley instead in the hope/expectation they get there.
Wild prediction time: some tickets still to be available on the day and it won’t sell out.
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31 minutes ago, Luke HKR said:
So there is. I was wrong about that, sorry.
So when are the 1895 cup semi's?
17th and 18th May
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3 minutes ago, Luke HKR said:
and god help any neutral (on a weekend when only league one games are on other then semis), wanting to goto this game.
There’s a full round of Championship fixtures on as well as League 1.
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Maybe it’s just me but I see a lot of logic in playing the game at York:
The 2023 semi final (Hull KR vs Wigan at Headingley) drew 10926, just 55% of capacity.
The 2024 semi final (again, KR vs Wigan, this time at Doncaster) drew 11163, 73% of capacity with KR believed to have taken 6500 supporters.
They’ve been given 7000 tickets for this semi final.
Hand on heart, other than their own ground which obviously can’t be used for a semi final, where do people think the KR-Catalan match should take place?
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16 minutes ago, north yorks trinity said:
I knew you wouldn't let me down!!!
Not all heroes wear capes! Great stuff @The Hallucinating Goose
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5 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:
Tell you what, if you think we moan a lot on here go read the threads on Facebook about this series, reminds me why I like coming on here, much friendlier and more relaxed atmosphere.
I’m glad I’m not the only one reading the comments on there.
I’m especially astonished at so many people saying they found the code much later in their junk mail, or they don’t get paid for another week (I sympathise here but you know, have a small emergency fund). Just when did we become a nation of people who can’t think for themselves?!Trying not to be that smarmy guy here, I totally get everyone’s situations are different and I know paying out good money for tickets can be difficult….BUT if you wanted tickets, especially for Headingley, you had to put a little bit of research in and pre plan. Sign up for the pre sale, make sure your card details are up to date, have in mind where you wanted to sit, set aside 10 minutes to purchase.
Again not being I’m alright jack but I knew I needed to take the wife somewhere at midday when they went on sale so I took her 5 mins early, found a cafe, and was one of the first to purchase when they went on sale. I knew which stand I wanted to sit in, even down to the exact seats (no seats behind us = no kids kicking our chairs. Our seats right at the side of the stand = not having to move for anyone to get past!).
Maybe I’m too boring being so organised.
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These matches (especially the Wembley one) need to be events not just 80mins of rugby. We’ve seen at KR and Leigh how the all round experience is much better when you put some thought into the event. I don’t think Super Bowl, for example, would be as big as it is if there was nothing going on before or at half time.
I feel as a sport we are hesitant to push things. My last York match (a double header), the entertainment consisted of a playlist of about 10 songs. By the time I’d heard Wrecking Ball for the 4th time I felt like walking out (it didn’t help that the men’s game wasn’t the best). Sadly at York there’s a lot of Dave’s from Acomb and Steve’s from Heworth who remember Clarence Street and say it’s about the 80 minutes, and we don’t need all that razzmatazz. If the sport is to grow, we need to appeal to more than people who’ve been going decades.
As for why aren’t big bands willing to play Wembley as a loss leader. There’s something in the music industry known as exposure, whereby venues will ask you to play for free, for exposure. In the same way you wouldn’t say to Tom Johnstone you’re happy playing this series for £100 aren’t you, after all just 3 years ago you were playing to barely 5000 at Wakefield. Most bands are wise to it, you might get some young eager up and coming band willing to play it for peanuts but it comes back to trying to get someone that everyone knows, with energetic songs to match, not some semi unknown act. I’m a professional musician myself and my bands are occasionally asked to play for free which is a big no.
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32 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:
I agree. Plus, they simply didn’t know what the appetite would be for tickets of course. Sitting here and seeing the tickets flying out the door we can assert they should have had even bidder stadia and maybe more expensive tickets, but there was some guesswork and risk management at stake. Against that background, a blinder has been played.
As you say, the organisers had to weigh up the risk too. They could’ve played it ultra safe and gone with Wigan, Hudds and Hull FC like last time.
I think the 3 venues are a good mix:
Wembley is a slight risk as Challenge Cup finals crowds haven’t been great there for a while, however the last time England played there (2013 World Cup unless I’m mistaken) the crowd was 67,545 which isn’t a bad effort.
Everton a slightly bigger risk, yes it’s a new venue and not exactly in the back end of nowhere but likewise it’s not slap bang in the heartlands either. The magic weekend in Liverpool was the 3rd lowest attendance since it began in 2007 (only Murrayfield and Elland Road got lower). The 2016 final in Liverpool (Anfield) was 73% of capacity, admittedly England weren’t involved.
Headingley is the safe bet (a sellout regardless). Personally I don’t think there’d be the same buzz or FOMO if the 3rd test was at Elland Road or St James or Old Trafford etc.
Like you say, a blinder has been played.
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20 minutes ago, Bull Mania said:
Excellent. Imagine being able to throw the whole marketing campaign down in London.
I’d love it (Kevin Keegan mode) if they were able to get a named act on to open the series. Something other than the kids choir/bland indie group/semi famous guy being a DJ.
I’m not expecting The Rolling Stones but something more along the lines of when Madness, Kaiser Chiefs or James have been the act, playing fun songs that everyone knows the words to. Hopefully Moran can help with this area.
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I didn’t used to mind Try music but something changed when ‘Fiesta’ by The Pogues was played after each of the 25 (yes, 25) York Knights Tries against West Wales.
Variety is everything
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5 minutes ago, thehullram said:
When is the general sale?
10am on Monday 14th April
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10 minutes ago, Dave T said:
It's all PR - you can pretty much get whatever tickets you would like for any game, but it has created a buzz and fans actually flapping about not receiving their code etc. It's created a sense of urgency, whereas it's probably fair to say that for an RL event you can normally just wait until the final month before bothering.
Hopefully this strategy will allow them to know where they now need to focus their marketing budget, and how much (although I'd expect no real surprises!).
Yep, it’s something I wish more clubs would do, though I appreciate an Ashes game is a bit more of an easy sell.
I got my preferred tickets in the East Stand. Although in my section it only showed about 25% availability, I imagine they will hold rows/areas back, again to create demand and urgency.
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1 hour ago, Father Gascoigne said:
I think it makes more sense when you consider how much pubs pay for sport. The average pub is spending £20,000 across the two broadcasters.
It's like when I pay for Netflix to watch one show, then spend the rest of the month putting on random stuff to justify the money spent.
Not saying that's the main reason, but I'm sure sunk-cost fallacy factors into it.
Oh I don’t blame the pubs themselves, the outlay is huge. It’s more the general publics obsession with even the lowest level of football…how can people seriously be so into watching coverage Altrincham FC vs Welling United on a Saturday at 7pm. I mean could you imagine if people were crowded round a TV watching Skirlaugh vs Pilkington Recs, or watching live go kart racing streamed from your local centre, or Dibley against Henley Hamlet in the Village cricket league on the sky sports cricket channel. (No offence to any of these teams btw!).
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44 minutes ago, Celtic Roosters said:
they would refuse to put it on because they are watching Crystal Palace v Wolves, let alone United or City.
I find that really frustrating, I gig in a lot of sports bars and we are forever having to wait until the football has finished before starting our set. I can understand if it’s the Champions League final or a big World Cup match but about 2 years ago I looked on in bewilderment, twiddling my thumbs, waiting to start our gig as people watched Crawley Town vs Shrewsbury or some other nondescript teams.
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I was hopeful the pre ticket window if you’ve bought a ticket previously for ‘an England International’ might include England Women as I’ve been to a few of their games over the years but not the men’s team.
Sat 10th-Sun 11th May: The Betfred Championship Match Thread
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted · Edited by AB Knight
That would be the Halifax gripe train. Give it a few more defeats and some fans will want Eastmond out. Other scapegoat options (the RFL, FC Halifax Town, Calderdale Council, Ken Davy at some point in the future) are available