The Goole Vikings Thread

[Rene_Artois]

On 18/09/2024 at 15:49, Gav Wilson said:

Would expect Doncaster's Tom Halliday to be another new signing. 

Zeus Silk at Dewsbury would be a decent pick up too. 

I've heard Tom has interest from other parties. Would love him to sign for Goole though. Would be a great figurehead for the club.

[Stirlin]

6 hours ago, Usera said:

Goole return to the semi-professional ranks 122 years after the original Google club resigned from the Northern Union, at the same stadium as well it seems.

Good luck to them.

It would be wonderful to see areas which also had teams in the early days back in rugby league, Penrith, Morecambe, Lancaster, Kendal, Birkenhead, Stockport and Runcorn for example.

Google been around that long ? , every day is a school day.

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Expatknight said:

Since when has common sense had anything to do with the decision making at the RFL? In fact it is usually the opposite and if we can shoot ourselves in the foot into the bargain that is a bonus!

The comment was regarding Eddie's comment.  I didn't realise Eddie was involved in decision making at the RFL.

 

[Gooleboy]

1 hour ago, DEANO said:

lol now Cornwall have moved to Bedford 

They are getting nearer!

[Gav Wilson]

On 18/09/2024 at 15:49, Gav Wilson said:

Would expect Doncaster's Tom Halliday to be another new signing.

Now confirmed... 

[Gav Wilson]

 

[gazza77]

On 19/09/2024 at 08:20, sam4731 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there is just 1 pairing of teams with the same moniker in the pro ranks (Widnes and Goole) which sets up the mouth watering potential Viking derby.

 

I wonder how long it will be before they lock horns?

[Martyn Sadler]

I attended the Vikings' launch earlier today and I was very impressed by the clarity of their plans to develop the club while putting out a competitive side and with £7 million to be spent on upgrading their stadium.

The logic of placing a semi-professional club in that location is hard to argue with.

[Gav Wilson]

 

[Gomersall]

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/goolevikings/1413397

[Gav Wilson]

1. Jamie Shaul

2. Ben Hodder

3. Tom Halliday

4. Tom Minns

5. Josh Guzdek

 

Not a bad L1 starting backline that tbf!

[Wellsy4HullFC]

What's the capacity at their grind currently out of interest?

[Barley Mow]

4 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

What's the capacity at their grind currently out of interest?

They'll be playing at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds. Current capacity is 3,000 but it's undergoing renovation - no sure what the future capacity will be.

[Eddie]

On 01/10/2024 at 17:36, Martyn Sadler said:

I attended the Vikings' launch earlier today and I was very impressed by the clarity of their plans to develop the club while putting out a competitive side and with £7 million to be spent on upgrading their stadium.

The logic of placing a semi-professional club in that location is hard to argue with.

@Martyn Sadler, you obviously have a lot to do with the RFL, do you think they actually want to expand the game or would they prefer to keep it in the Heartlands? Serious question by the way. Thanks. 

[Martyn Sadler]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

@Martyn Sadler, you obviously have a lot to do with the RFL, do you think they actually want to expand the game or would they prefer to keep it in the Heartlands? Serious question by the way. Thanks. 

The RFL would obviously like to expand the game but the governance structure means that they are relying on enthusiastic individuals to set up new clubs rather than having any direct agency themselves.

And the same applies to all existing clubs.

That is why the game is in such a precarious state.

If a wealthy individual decides to walk away from subsiding a club, it always places it in danger.

[Gomersall]

 

[Odsal Outlaw]

Surprised they’ve been allowed to retain the Vikings moniker. Surely wouldn’t have been hard for RFL to say ‘you’re in but you need a unique moniker’.  Also surprised Widnes didn’t object.

[Eddie]

37 minutes ago, Odsal Outlaw said:

Surprised they’ve been allowed to retain the Vikings moniker. Surely wouldn’t have been hard for RFL to say ‘you’re in but you need a unique moniker’.  Also surprised Widnes didn’t object.

Why would Widnes object? I doubt they’ll ever cross paths and certainly won’t ever compete for fans. 

[RayCee]

3 hours ago, Odsal Outlaw said:

Surprised they’ve been allowed to retain the Vikings moniker. Surely wouldn’t have been hard for RFL to say ‘you’re in but you need a unique moniker’.  Also surprised Widnes didn’t object.

Imagine if either of those sides had a female fan named Vi King. She'd feel right at home. 

[RayCee]

I get the idea that spreading the game across the country gives the sport a semblance of a national presence. However, a club like Cornwall - despite having a solid fan base - is out on a limb. It must be a challenge to run junior teams etc.

I'm coming around to the idea it's best to spread RL gradually away from the traditional RL, either filling in holes within the north or moving to areas not too far removed. It reduces travel costs and junior teams can be integrated into existing competitions that are in close proximity.

[Eddie]

5 hours ago, RayCee said:

I get the idea that spreading the game across the country gives the sport a semblance of a national presence. However, a club like Cornwall - despite having a solid fan base - is out on a limb. It must be a challenge to run junior teams etc.

I'm coming around to the idea it's best to spread RL gradually away from the traditional RL, either filling in holes within the north or moving to areas not too far removed. It reduces travel costs and junior teams can be integrated into existing competitions that are in close proximity.

Absolutely, that’s what should have been happening for the whole history of the game, though as the RFL has no strategy new clubs depend entirely on where there are people who want to set one up. If thats Cornwall or Norfolk rather than Barnsley or Grimsby then that’s where the clubs will be. 

[gingerjon]

6 hours ago, RayCee said:

I get the idea that spreading the game across the country gives the sport a semblance of a national presence. However, a club like Cornwall - despite having a solid fan base - is out on a limb. It must be a challenge to run junior teams etc.

I'm coming around to the idea it's best to spread RL gradually away from the traditional RL, either filling in holes within the north or moving to areas not too far removed. It reduces travel costs and junior teams can be integrated into existing competitions that are in close proximity.

Pins on maps is never a solution.

[Griff]

10 hours ago, Odsal Outlaw said:

Surprised they’ve been allowed to retain the Vikings moniker. Surely wouldn’t have been hard for RFL to say ‘you’re in but you need a unique moniker’.  Also surprised Widnes didn’t object.

We've had Whitehaven and Wigan Warriors before. We've had two sets of Rovers for the last century.

[ricky]

Goole Dockers would have been nice, but I suppose they would have felt that Hull Dockers got there first.

[Archie Gordon]

7 hours ago, RayCee said:

I get the idea that spreading the game across the country gives the sport a semblance of a national presence. However, a club like Cornwall - despite having a solid fan base - is out on a limb. It must be a challenge to run junior teams etc.

I'm coming around to the idea it's best to spread RL gradually away from the traditional RL, either filling in holes within the north or moving to areas not too far removed. It reduces travel costs and junior teams can be integrated into existing competitions that are in close proximity.

Fine. But there are lots of 'holes' for new clubs all around the country.

Whatever the case, there is no money to spend it seems and so the idea of a strategy is moot.