Jughead Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 (edited) In light of today’s announcement that there’s a proper international weekend in June when England play the Combines Nations, I had a look at what else was on that weekend and it appears that all three leagues have a blank weekend, which is good news. I quite enjoy a Saturday afternoon during the summer months watching a game of amateur Rugby League in the sunshine (I hope) and I’ve had an idea, borrowed from football. ‘Non-League Day’ was first suggested in 2010 where on an international weekend where most of the the top three divisions of professional football pauses for a weekend, that football fans are encouraged to attend a non-league game. Some of the perceived benefits of this is that it brought much needed income to small clubs who, typically, run on a shoestring budget, it might encourage people to get involved with their local club some more and to encourage people to watch a game live that won’t clash with their team’s game or the live televised games. I’m proposing a similar venture within Rugby League on the weekend of the 17-19 June. I’m guessing, like in 2021, England v Combined Nations will be the Friday evening, leaving the Saturday and Sunday free. There’s no Super League, Championship or League One rugby that weekend, though the NCL have fixtures. I’ve scoured Google and I can’t see fixtures releases for the North West Mens League, Yorkshire Leagues and the regional leagues across the country but looking at their history, they all typically play in June, so there should be a full set of amateur fixtures for that weekend. Amateur Rugby League, like the sport of Rugby League in general, has suffered as a result of covid and getting back in their stride through the army of volunteers that work in that area, is vital for the game of Rugby League. While we attribute your Saints’, Wigan’s and Leeds’ with player development, if it wasn’t for clubs like Thatto Heath Crusaders, Wigan St Pats and Stanningley, amongst others, these players wouldn’t have got their foot on the first rung of the ladder. While £10 behind the bar on a couple of pints and a pie doesn’t seem like a lot, every penny is likely to go towards balls and kits so that the next James Roby, Sean O’Loughlin and Danny McGuire can take their first steps to stardom. Get yourself to a game that weekend and, if you can, spend a little bit of money. Firstly, you’re likely to see an enjoyable game, you’ll get a different experience to a Super League matchday, where you’re actually only a matter of feet from the tackles and skills on show, you’ll be helping the game of Rugby League and you might just enjoy a day outside in fresh air. NCL Premier Division 18th June; Egremont Rangers v Pilkington Recs Leigh Miners Rangers v West Hull Lock Lane v Siddal Thatto Heath Crusaders v Hunslet Club Parkside Thornhill Trojans v Rochdale Mayfield York Acorn v Watch Brow Hornets NCL Division One - 18th June Featherstone Lions v Wigan St Pats Kells v Ince Rose Bridge Myron Warriors v Skirlaugh Oulton Raiders v Milford Saddleworth Rangers v Stanningley West Bowling v Hull Dockers NCL Division Two - 18th June Barrow Island v Dewsbury Celtic Beverley v Dewsbury Moor Clock Face Miners v Bradford Dudley Hill Crosfields v Heworth Wigan St Jude’s v Normanton Knights Woolston Rovers v Hunslet Warriors NCL Division Three - 18th June East Leeds v Bentley Eastmoor Dragons v Seaton Rangers Hensingham v Waterhead Leigh East v Drighlington Millom v Batley Boys Oldham St Annes v Shaw Cross Sharks Edited January 22 by Jughead 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Stottle Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 38 minutes ago, Jughead said: In light of today’s announcement that there’s a proper international weekend in June when England play the Combines Nations, I had a look at what else was on that weekend and it appears that all three leagues have a blank weekend, which is good news. I quite enjoy a Saturday afternoon during the summer months watching a game of amateur Rugby League in the sunshine (I hope) and I’ve had an idea, borrowed from football. ‘Non-League Day’ was first suggested in 2010 where on an international weekend where most of the the top three divisions of professional football pauses for a weekend, that football fans are encouraged to attend a non-league game. Some of the perceived benefits of this is that it brought much needed income to small clubs who, typically, run on a shoestring budget, it might encourage people to get involved with their local club some more and to encourage people to watch a game live that won’t clash with their team’s game or the live televised games. I’m proposing a similar venture within Rugby League on the weekend of the 17-19 June. I’m guessing, like in 2021, England v Combined Nations will be the Friday evening, leaving the Saturday and Sunday free. There’s no Super League, Championship or League One rugby that weekend, though the NCL have fixtures. I’ve scoured Google and I can’t see fixtures releases for the North West Mens League, Yorkshire Leagues and the regional leagues across the country but looking at their history, they all typically play in June, so there should be a full set of amateur fixtures for that weekend. Amateur Rugby League, like the sport of Rugby League in general, has suffered as a result of covid and getting back in their stride through the army of volunteers that work in that area, is vital for the game of Rugby League. While we attribute your Saints’, Wigan’s and Leeds’ with player development, if it wasn’t for clubs like Thatto Heath Crusaders, Wigan St Pats and Stanningley, amongst others, these players wouldn’t have got their foot on the first rung of the ladder. While £10 behind the bar on a couple of pints and a pie doesn’t seem like a lot, every penny is likely to go towards balls and kits so that the next James Roby, Sean O’Loughlin and Danny McGuire can take their first steps to stardom. Get yourself to a game that weekend and, if you can, spend a little bit of money. Firstly, you’re likely to see an enjoyable game, you’ll get a different experience to a Super League matchday, where you’re actually only a matter of feet from the tackles and skills on show, you’ll be helping the game of Rugby League and you might just enjoy a day outside in fresh air. NCL Premier Division 18th June; Egremont Rangers v Pilkington Recs Leigh Miners Rangers v West Hull Lock Lane v Siddal Thatto Heath Crusaders v Hunslet Club Parkside Thornhill Trojans v Rochdale Mayfield York Acorn v Watch Brow Hornets NCL Division One - 18th June Featherstone Lions v Wigan St Pats Kells v Ince Rose Bridge Myron Warriors v Skirlaugh Oulton Raiders v Milford Saddleworth Rangers v Stanningley West Bowling v Hull Dockers NCL Division Two - 18th June Barrow Island v Dewsbury Celtic Beverley v Dewsbury Moor Clock Face Miners v Bradford Dudley Hill Crosfields v Heworth Wigan St Jude’s v Normanton Knights Woolston Rovers v Hunslet Warriors NCL Division Three - 18th June East Leeds v Bentley Eastmoor Dragons v Seaton Rangers Hensingham v Waterhead Leigh East v Drighlington Millom v Batley Boys Oldham St Annes v Shaw Cross Sharks Great Idea Juggy, why can't all those on the RL payroll come up with something positive like this? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbe Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Dont forget the Southern Conference League / London League. They have produced quite a few S/L players. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerjon Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 A really good and straightforward idea. Even if not official, it would be pretty easy to build up on social media and the like. 2 Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jughead Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 5 minutes ago, newbe said: Dont forget the Southern Conference League / London League. They have produced quite a few S/L players. I didn’t but from what I can see, their fixtures aren’t out yet. The NCL’s are at the minute but yes, every league this weekend should be highlighted. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marklaspalmas Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Good idea. I think the word "amateur" in this sense is out-dated and redundant. Community or Non-league is a better description. 3 https://www.fevarchive.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jughead Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Just now, marklaspalmas said: Good idea. I think the word "amateur" in this sense is out-dated and redundant. Community or Non-league is a better description. Yeah, I didn’t really consider giving it a proper name and I don’t particularly like what I titled it. Community Rugby League Day/Weekend is probably a better and less dated name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marklaspalmas Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 3 minutes ago, Jughead said: Yeah, I didn’t really consider giving it a proper name and I don’t particularly like what I titled it. Community Rugby League Day/Weekend is probably a better and less dated name. Fair play. Good idea, eh? It'd help to bring together a sport, that despite its small size, seems to delight in subdividing itself into mutually exclusive subsections at times. 4 https://www.fevarchive.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylya Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I really like it. Definitely think it's something that people should try and promote unofficially if the governing body have no interest. Things like posting on your own social profiles with hashtags etc/photos of clubs etc. If enough people got into it, it could generate some interest and grow in future years. If the internationals line up again, which is always hit and miss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbe Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 In NRL all players have to wear there amateur club soxs, for one fixture, to celebrate the club they started with. That would look good on Sky when showing a live game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM2010 Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 It's a great idea. Everyone visiting a community club and putting money behind the bar as well as promoting the game on social media. Could even take a friend or 2 who aren't normally RL fans. Professional clubs could help promote this idea on their social media also. It would be a big boost for the community clubs financially and would also help promote them in their local areas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudger06 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 22/01/2022 at 13:19, Jughead said: In light of today’s announcement that there’s a proper international weekend in June when England play the Combines Nations, I had a look at what else was on that weekend and it appears that all three leagues have a blank weekend, which is good news. I quite enjoy a Saturday afternoon during the summer months watching a game of amateur Rugby League in the sunshine (I hope) and I’ve had an idea, borrowed from football. ‘Non-League Day’ was first suggested in 2010 where on an international weekend where most of the the top three divisions of professional football pauses for a weekend, that football fans are encouraged to attend a non-league game. Some of the perceived benefits of this is that it brought much needed income to small clubs who, typically, run on a shoestring budget, it might encourage people to get involved with their local club some more and to encourage people to watch a game live that won’t clash with their team’s game or the live televised games. I’m proposing a similar venture within Rugby League on the weekend of the 17-19 June. I’m guessing, like in 2021, England v Combined Nations will be the Friday evening, leaving the Saturday and Sunday free. There’s no Super League, Championship or League One rugby that weekend, though the NCL have fixtures. I’ve scoured Google and I can’t see fixtures releases for the North West Mens League, Yorkshire Leagues and the regional leagues across the country but looking at their history, they all typically play in June, so there should be a full set of amateur fixtures for that weekend. Amateur Rugby League, like the sport of Rugby League in general, has suffered as a result of covid and getting back in their stride through the army of volunteers that work in that area, is vital for the game of Rugby League. While we attribute your Saints’, Wigan’s and Leeds’ with player development, if it wasn’t for clubs like Thatto Heath Crusaders, Wigan St Pats and Stanningley, amongst others, these players wouldn’t have got their foot on the first rung of the ladder. While £10 behind the bar on a couple of pints and a pie doesn’t seem like a lot, every penny is likely to go towards balls and kits so that the next James Roby, Sean O’Loughlin and Danny McGuire can take their first steps to stardom. Get yourself to a game that weekend and, if you can, spend a little bit of money. Firstly, you’re likely to see an enjoyable game, you’ll get a different experience to a Super League matchday, where you’re actually only a matter of feet from the tackles and skills on show, you’ll be helping the game of Rugby League and you might just enjoy a day outside in fresh air. NCL Premier Division 18th June; Egremont Rangers v Pilkington Recs Leigh Miners Rangers v West Hull Lock Lane v Siddal Thatto Heath Crusaders v Hunslet Club Parkside Thornhill Trojans v Rochdale Mayfield York Acorn v Watch Brow Hornets NCL Division One - 18th June Featherstone Lions v Wigan St Pats Kells v Ince Rose Bridge Myron Warriors v Skirlaugh Oulton Raiders v Milford Saddleworth Rangers v Stanningley West Bowling v Hull Dockers NCL Division Two - 18th June Barrow Island v Dewsbury Celtic Beverley v Dewsbury Moor Clock Face Miners v Bradford Dudley Hill Crosfields v Heworth Wigan St Jude’s v Normanton Knights Woolston Rovers v Hunslet Warriors NCL Division Three - 18th June East Leeds v Bentley Eastmoor Dragons v Seaton Rangers Hensingham v Waterhead Leigh East v Drighlington Millom v Batley Boys Oldham St Annes v Shaw Cross Sharks Top thinking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrewthehaggis Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Jughead for the RFL to replace some of the ***heads? Being serious, I will join the majority who endorse this fine proposal. Can I additionally suggest if SL wanted a good thematic round, then one devoted to the community game would be a good thing. Maybe a couple of BARLA games paraded before the SL match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerjon Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 On 22/01/2022 at 19:26, zylya said: I really like it. Definitely think it's something that people should try and promote unofficially if the governing body have no interest. Fairly certain that's how Non League Day in football started. It was, from memory, initially a lot of clubs using social media going, "Now that Manchester United aren't on the TV this weekend, why not come down to us for your football fix" and similar. Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadera78 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 1 hour ago, gingerjon said: Fairly certain that's how Non League Day in football started. It was, from memory, initially a lot of clubs using social media going, "Now that Manchester United aren't on the TV this weekend, why not come down to us for your football fix" and similar. A fellow-QPR fan had the idea when watching the superhoops play a pre-season game against non-league opposition. Punted the idea on Facebook and it took hold really quickly. It was individuals, clubs, leagues, county FAs, then professional clubs and leagues, before the FA belatedly arrived at the party. It's a great way to get some money into community clubs, and also remind people that live sport doesn't have to revolve around a handful of clubs playing at the top end. 2 "Just as we had been Cathars, we were treizistes, men apart." Jean Roque, Calendrier-revue du Racing-Club Albigeois, 1958-1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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