120 points against London teams

[PhilCarrington]

1 hour ago, Barley Mow said:

I don't know if you're right on this or not, but didn't Skolars call themselves North London Skolars for 7 or 8 years in the late 90s/early 2000s before reverting to just  London?

only because they were forced to by the RLC. They were concurently North London Skolars in that comp and London Skolars in the NCL.

[Ivarr the Boneless]

12 hours ago, Jughead said:

I think it’s a little simplistic and naive to expect London Skolars’ support to swell should Broncos cease to exist, I can only imagine the thought of my club not existing and I do wonder whether the damage would see a sizeable portion of the ever shrinking Broncos support simply not bother anymore. 

A fair chunk are already dual club fans. I was a dual season ticket holder when I lived in London but dropped Skolars on leaving, to avoid spending my life hauling into London.

I fear what is going on at Broncos is driving many fans from the sport. Personally if Broncos go that's it, I don't fancy a three hour round trip to an athletics track stadium to watch Skolars. I'll go to the Challenge Cup Final whilst it's in London, the odd game up north if on holiday but no more. It's back to football for me realistically.

The journey time to Skolars will be an issue for others too. Many Broncos fans aren't local, will they do the travel for another team? I suspect not in many cases 

Given I used to watch Prescot and Oxford, as well as having 20 or so Broncos season tickets, Skolars will probably be delighted to hear my reverse Midas touch won't be landing on them again...

Edited April 28, 2022 by Ivarr the Boneless

[RigbyLuger]

12 hours ago, Angelic Cynic said:

The sport needs a root and branch review,and,like the wealthy sport of soccer,where little Forest Green Rovers,with their lone millionaire owner and his sustainability and vegetarianism/veganism are managing success,we should also,immediately, have an independent regulator. 

Many called for that after one of the recent Bradford collapses, but they didn't want to rake over the past (for fairly clear reasons that can't be proved.)

[gingerjon]

There's not much point in a root and branch review if there's no will or money to do anything as a result. (And this doesn't just apply to London/SE development).

The RFL made a profit last year. Credit to them for doing so. But they had to reduce their payroll by half a million to do so and have an awful lot of loan repayments due. I don't see where the additional funding to do anything is going to come from.

[steve oates]

15 hours ago, Magic XIII said:

At the risk of repeating myself  ...... the London Broncos junior pathway is only as strong as the ability of community clubs to introduce the lads to RL. One look at 2022 London Junior League results / fixtures, in comparison to say even 3 or 4 years ago show how much of a rapid decline has taken place in club and team numbers in the region and ability of teams to field even 13 players. And I can speak from a place of knowledge having coached juniors down here for a good number of years. 

This for me is the best post (worst one with respect being the idea London kids will travel north to join academies as it's just like going to Uni, which it is not - any southern kid would be isolated) of the discussion.  Obviously you have the "authority" to make your statement above. 

Other issues include club TV funding. IIRC we were worried that small clubs would lose significant funding, but in the end they received SKY money and they carried on - for now. The the question remains will they receive it next time?  Indeed, what are they doing to earn any such future monies?

Shipping in 120 points between them probably says "nothing much", whilst for me the drop in private investment by Hughes and McNeil who has announced he is stepping "away" are also indicators that 2004 may be a significant re-set for the game, and personally I don't see three divisions.

 

[steve oates]

13 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

There's not much point in a root and branch review if there's no will or money to do anything as a result. (And this doesn't just apply to London/SE development).

The RFL made a profit last year. Credit to them for doing so. But they had to reduce their payroll by half a million to do so and have an awful lot of loan repayments due. I don't see where the additional funding to do anything is going to come from.

Cutting out League one?? 

[gingerjon]

6 minutes ago, steve oates said:

Cutting out League one?? 

How much would that add to the balance sheet and how good a review and implementation could you do with that money?

(Assuming it was a good idea to do so).

[westlondonfan]

Moving from Trailfinders because “That’s not Super League” was a an absolutely crazy decision. 
What makes things even more galling was that Ealing Trailfinders won their championship and although they have been denied promotion now they had offered to work towards a ten thousand seater stadium at Ealing in the next few years.

[Templegreen]

Good to see Broncos get a win today

It’s worth noting though that of the 10+ ex Skolars players Broncos took in pre-season, only 2 were in the Broncos team today.

Whereas Skolars lost 96-0 to Keighley and of Skolars team, only 3 players were Skolars regulars last season.

Although i’m pleased Broncos have won, there is sadness in the manner in which we have behaved this season and i feel we could have done irreparable damage to Skolars future & harmed the development of RL in London