Bob Fowler

Ungfortunately the Look North cameras did not attend as promised, but the media did and pictures will appear in the P & C on Thursday and the Rugby Press from Monday. As I said in another thread, Shirts will be on sale from the club shop from 12 noon Saturday. The club are just as upset as the rest of us that the shirts have not been delivered as promised.

The shirts will be on sale from 12 noon Saturday, but there will not be a shirt "launch" as such, just buying the shirt from the shop .

I can see NO problem in gaining a Super League licence at all it's simple. Show the Lincecee's that we play at Elland Road That we have a

Sorry mate I've not been too well this week end so I haven't been too active, but because of the rumours about the delay in the shirt, I have no idea. I have tried telephoning a couple of directors, but I'm assuming they are at the weekly meeting at this time. I will post as soon as I know.

One reason thta R.U. has an edge over us is that it is played at school level throughout the country and is the first introduction to Rugby of any kind for most lads. I was fortunate enough to have a father who was a dedicated Rovers fans, but when I was 11 years old, I didn't really understand the logistics of the game and had to play Union. I always said I would rather play Union and watch league and obviously over the years I changed. However, the grammar schools of my era bred many of todays media executives and the league game had Eddie Waring to promote the game. Eddie knew his rugby league but became ridiculed for his mannerisms. What we need more than any Expansions is the right people in marketing to promote the game throughout the country. Our game has in my mind been prostituted by get rich quick guys who haven't cared about the "big" picture. We need to promote the game from junior level to Super League if that means gimmicks then so be it. Keighley did well in the mid 90's and promoted the game to a level not seen by many before, it worked for them but like a few other clubs their reward was ignored in favour of Paris and London. The only thing that will bring crowds in is a winning team with enough energy to do constant promotions. Some may say that's flogging a dead horse in Featherstone, so let's move the goal posts, let's make coming to watch Rovers an experience and make new fans welcome. Many clubs are far behind promoting the game due to having to watch their pennies , but a little spent on this will go a long way. We the supporters can do our bit and should enhance the club in it's ventures in any way we can. The RFL are embarrased by the Crusaders debacle ( I was told this by someone from Red Hall) but have to stick to supporting the team they brought into Super League, they are not happy at all and Crusaders may find difficuly in maintaining their status next time round. We need good media coverage both by T.V and radio, we need talented marketing people and we need respect for the fans of the game.

I didn't realise any of them were gay ???

Just a guess but I see Morrison as moving to the front row and adding more mobility to the pack in that position. Matty Dale could also be used there as well but I fancy Spears to cover that position as well, although I would have relished the sight of Houston and Morrison on at the same time , that's not now going to happen. I do believe that daryl will use Finn more as a hooker, although as Mark says he is a recognised Scrum Half. Our main problems last season stemmed from the fact that our three quarters didn't make the difference in attack that we needed and it took the play offs before we seemed to adjust our style of play to "bully" the other teams into making mistakes. This season we could well have the players to make the breaks, we know Steele can back up what we need to see is a good fast courageous wingman, I don't know anything about Nate Brown so I can't comment Sam Smeaton has the courage, he just needs to learn how to position himself in defence , although he did well last season. I'm not downhearted at teh squad as I feel it has more go forward qualities about it, I just hope it has the stoppem qualities as well.

I don't believe Andy Kirk, Tommy Haughey or Waine Pryce have yet signed for anyone.

Seems like Budworth is on his way to Australia to play with Mackay

A Big bird mentioned it in passing although at the time a definite price was NOT available butremember VAT goes UP again on 1st January 2010 so I would buy early to avoid an extra 2 1/2 %

They are usually the people who put them there in the first place. Certain Chairmen and CEO's have more power than Lewis and Woods.

I have seen a programme with Carl Wilde and wanting to get in the dressing rooms the players were really scared in case he succeeded

A little bird (WREN OR ######) has hinted to me that I might wish to watch Look North on Monday 14th December or Tuesday 15th as it is quite possible that along with the Army the players will be filming a promotional piece to co-incide with the Army sponsorship. This will of course include the new shirt. (Price still unknown but definitely not much more than last season.0

Anyone reading League Weekly will have noticed Nosey Parker saying that Mark Campbell had declared an interest in Neil Budworth.

As I said earlier I have no axe to grind with anyone who decides to pay fro subscription television. The whole crux of the matter though is, should the major sporting events be available on free to view television ? My answer was yes. I was also taking into account that many people could not afford to pay subscriptions. Colin you are right there are Pubs and Clubs to watch big games in if you wish, the clubhouse opened for this purpose and no-one was interested. There is bound to be many different programme choices available on SKY , that though is not the point, the whole point is that I pay my television licence to the BBC for them to entertain me, without that licence I am not able to watch ANY television. Like you Colin I live on a pension, one which I contributed to all my working life and because I am not yet 65, never increases year after year so my income is static my outgoings are different. I do, however, have savings whch I could if required use, but the question is and will always be, should premium sporting events be available to the MAJORITY on free to view, I say yes. The argument about someone on benefits buying 40 fags cannot come into the equation the same as how can unemployed drug addicts afford a "fix"?

Paris St Germain and London promoted in 1995 indecent haste Paris fell London propped up by RFL all to bring in SL in indecent haste. Catalan brought in no relegation for 3 years full of antipodeans but they are making a go of it, Celtic brought in allowed illegal players ( not realised at the time I admit) but still allowed to progress despite doing so outside the UK laws. Touloues brought in straight to Championship which we had to work hard to re-achieve, no relegation so signed mmore Aussies and French internationls who can't get in Catalan because of the Aussies. I suggest that any new team is FULLY investigated finacially and through the UK border agency and have a sustainable 3 year business plan in place before even considering an application. I am not far from walking away from a game I love through idiotic beaurocracy

YES ,..................................... but most of us don't have a clue I heard a whisper that the shirt won't even cost

Can someone explain why we have to pay to watch premium sports on television anyway ? If the sport is good enough then surely the revenue from advertising should cover the cost as it does with football on ITV? I know the BBC don't have advertisisng but they take money off me every year so thatI can watch repeats or sub standard documentaries ( apart from Life) The idea initially was that the licence fee was brought in to cover the cost of broadcasting 1 television station and four radio stations ( Luxembourg existed on adverts) BSB and Sky launched in competition and then had to merge because there was insufficient response to both stations. NOw how people spend their hard earned is entirely up to them, but remember there are many unfortunate people who cannot afford

Most clubs in our division have a similar policy, I am now classed as disabled and by ringing up the club we are playing at I can easily find out whether I pay full or a concession rate. A few clubs don't make any allowance at all ( Widnes & Barrow charge for everyone including carers) however, many clubs have no disabled seating areas or seats so that can be difficult ( Widnes do have disabled seats) . As a matter of course this season I am going to try and put together a guide for the disabled at Championship rugby league clubs in order to assist fans, in parking facilities , entry and seating areas. This is not intended to compare individual clubs, but to simply make it easier for disabled persons to attend a game.I have to say that both Sheffield Eagles and Halifax are extremely helpful in assisting the disabled.

You should have charged interest as well

Super League's were this week so it will be next Monday or the following week.

no that's because he felt Happy I too cancelled SKY in 1995 and I still do not have it, however, that's my personal choice and it's up to each person to decide for themselves.

The idea was to show our support for the people of Workington and Cockermouth two very lively rugby league areas. At this point I'm not worried about how people get to Derwent Park , only how the people in the area cope.