The Goole Vikings Thread

[georgeb1]

7 hours ago, Hopping Mad said:

Went to the Victoria Pleasure Grounds - home to Goole Vikings RL - yesterday (23/11) to watch Goole AFC play football. The VPG's grass pitch is a superb drainer, enabling the football club to get games on when many others have to be postponed.

As part of the stadium's multi-million revamp (scheduled for completion within the next 12 months), demolition of the main stand, on the near side, is about to start. Alternative dressing rooms, in portable buildings, have been provided at the near end, and a kit-type, 50-seat, temporary stand installed on the far side. I was told a plastic pitch will go down some time during February or March next year.

The football club don't seem overly happy about what, clearly, they regard as their rugby league counterparts 'piggy-backing' on their hard work. A columnist in yesterday's match programme wrote: "The emergence of professional rugby league next year has taken up plenty of column inches etc, and good luck in the venture, which they will need, but the Victoria Pleasure Grounds is a football arena and has had wonderful moments. In no way doubting that the rugby league side will want to be a success, football MUST retain the No 1 spot. After all, without a sizeable chunk of finance, it is unlikely the new facility would have even reached the drawing board. A good word then for [football club] chairman Alan Wilson, who understandably has taken flak over the club's fall from grace, but without a lot of effort with the ground's consultants and others, it [the redevelopment] would certainly be still a pipe dream rather than reality."

Crowd for yesterday's football was just 119. Goole lost, 0-3 to Hallam, to remain rooted to the foot of the Northern Counties East League's Premier Division (the ninth tier of English football). Given the size of the crowds Goole Vikings are likely to attract next season, surely it is inevitable the football club will play second fiddle to rugby league?

Got chatting to the bloke standing next to me. Turned out to be a Doncaster RLFC (and Goole AFC) supporter, going back to Tattersfield in the 1970s. He's looking forward to watching Goole Vikings games. Could be Vikings' hopes of becoming a lot of semi-local rugby league fans' 'second team' might not be far off the mark.

I as a york fan who only lives 10 miles from goole will attend any matches that don't coincide with the knights matches

[bentleyman]

As a Fax Fan living i Doncaster i will do the same

 

[Yorks Tim]

On 24/11/2024 at 19:55, georgeb1 said:

I as a york fan who only lives 10 miles from goole will attend any matches that don't coincide with the knights matches

 

On 24/11/2024 at 23:31, bentleyman said:

As a Fax Fan living i Doncaster i will do the same

 

See you both on the 23rd (Feb) 

[dkw]

As a Town fan I hope Goole`s first season is ok, but only ok, dont you go getting above yourselves and challenging for the top spots damn you.....

 

Have the owners set their expectations for the 1 season, they seem to be building a competitive team, but as ever at this level its when you need to delve into the squad the difficulties start.

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, dkw said:

As a Town fan I hope Goole`s first season is ok, but only ok, dont you go getting above yourselves and challenging for the top spots damn you.....

 

Have the owners set their expectations for the 1 season, they seem to be building a competitive team, but as ever at this level its when you need to delve into the squad the difficulties start.

With Cornwall, I said that year 2 would be the real test. I think Goole are set up well enough that things should be okay until the third season at least.

[Hopping Mad]

Midlands Hurricanes not the most exciting opposition for Goole's February 23 opener. I thought the RFL would have engineered a meeting with one of the third tier's bigger names.

Edited November 26, 2024 by Hopping Mad

[OriginalMrC]

10 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

Midlands Hurricanes not the most exciting opposition for Goole's February 23 opener. I thought the RFL would have engineered a meeting with one of the third tier's bigger names.

Wow really wish they'd fixed the fixture draw. Maybe they could do one better and get rid of teams that aren't exciting 

[Hopping Mad]

2 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

Wow really wish they'd fixed the fixture draw. Maybe they could do one better and get rid of teams that aren't exciting 

Oh, come on. It's been done before. Mansfield Marksman opening with a home game against Wakefield Trinity springs to mind immediately. As does Fulham starting against Wigan.

Edited November 26, 2024 by Hopping Mad

[OriginalMrC]

10 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

Oh, come on. It's been done before. Mansfield Marksman opening with a home game against Wakefield Trinity springs to mind immediately. As does Fulham starting against Wigan.

And to rub salt in the wound Hurricanes will likely win too. Personally I'd have given them easier opposition for their opening game to ease them into things 

[Hopping Mad]

19 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said:

And to rub salt in the wound Hurricanes will likely win too. Personally I'd have given them easier opposition for their opening game to ease them into things 

Let's see how Goole get on in their pre-season friendlies. Can't help recalling Mansfield beat Wakefield (15-0) and Fulham beat Wigan (24-5). Neither needed easing in.

Edited November 26, 2024 by Hopping Mad

[ricky]

Three home game - Midlands, Dewsbury, North Wales - and then nine away ties in a row, from end of March to early July. Hope that all goes reasonably well, or selling the final seven home ties over the summer holidays will have an extra challenge.

[RayCee]

2 hours ago, ricky said:

Three home game - Midlands, Dewsbury, North Wales - and then nine away ties in a row, from end of March to early July. Hope that all goes reasonably well, or selling the final seven home ties over the summer holidays will have an extra challenge.

Really? Nine away games in a row? Is there a reason for that? 
 

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, RayCee said:

Really? Nine away games in a row? Is there a reason for that? 
 

If it follows other soccer ground shares, it'll be because they use June to re-seed the pitch.

[Barley Mow]

36 minutes ago, RayCee said:

Really? Nine away games in a row? Is there a reason for that? 
 

31 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

If it follows other soccer ground shares, it'll be because they use June to re-seed the pitch.

It could also have something to do with the upcoming ground improvements.

Edited November 26, 2024 by Barley Mow

[preid]

26 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

If it follows other soccer ground shares, it'll be because they use June to re-seed the pitch.

It's to facilitate the (£7 million) re-development of their (Victoria Pleasure) ground i.e. to give a clear run for demolitions etc (I guess). Obviously not everything will be done in 7/8 weeks but it will get the ball rolling at least.

[bentleyman]

14 hours ago, Yorks Tim said:

 

See you both on the 23rd (Feb) 

Fraid not Fax are at Home to Barrow on the 23rd

[ricky]

"The team’s summer schedule will feature a challenging run of away fixtures while redevelopment works transform the Victoria Pleasure Ground into a state-of-the-art new venue. Despite this temporary on-the-road stint, supporters can anticipate an exciting return in July as the Vikings take to a brand new artificial playing pitch for the first time."

[Nearenough]

On 26/11/2024 at 08:38, Yorks Tim said:

 

See you both on the 23rd (Feb) 

York are playing TO at home on the 23rd.

ive heard a lot of folks in the general area of goole commenting that goole will be their 2nd team. maybe goole should look at saturday fixtures as a priority over sunday to assist.  or better still friday night games to avoid NCL fixtures on saturdays.

it will be interesting to compare gates for their saturday games with the sunday ones. i suppose this isnt really the model of expansion to new areas the RFL have in mind but it will put coppers in the vikings pot if folks adopt the viks as a 2nd team. goole does have excellent transport links.

[Gomersall]

11 hours ago, preid said:

It's to facilitate the (£7 million) re-development of their (Victoria Pleasure) ground i.e. to give a clear run for demolitions etc (I guess). Obviously not everything will be done in 7/8 weeks but it will get the ball rolling at least.

  https://www.gooleafc.com/news/vpg-stadium-update
Approximate dates have now been released regarding the £3.5 million pound upgrade to the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

[Billy King's Boots]

On 24/11/2024 at 12:41, Hopping Mad said:

Went to the Victoria Pleasure Grounds - home to Goole Vikings RL - yesterday (23/11) to watch Goole AFC play football. The VPG's grass pitch is a superb drainer, enabling the football club to get games on when many others have to be postponed.

As part of the stadium's multi-million revamp (scheduled for completion within the next 12 months), demolition of the main stand, on the near side, is about to start. Alternative dressing rooms, in portable buildings, have been provided at the near end, and a kit-type, 50-seat, temporary stand installed on the far side. I was told a plastic pitch will go down some time during February or March next year.

The football club don't seem overly happy about what, clearly, they regard as their rugby league counterparts 'piggy-backing' on their hard work. A columnist in yesterday's match programme wrote: "The emergence of professional rugby league next year has taken up plenty of column inches etc, and good luck in the venture, which they will need, but the Victoria Pleasure Grounds is a football arena and has had wonderful moments. In no way doubting that the rugby league side will want to be a success, football MUST retain the No 1 spot. After all, without a sizeable chunk of finance, it is unlikely the new facility would have even reached the drawing board. A good word then for [football club] chairman Alan Wilson, who understandably has taken flak over the club's fall from grace, but without a lot of effort with the ground's consultants and others, it [the redevelopment] would certainly be still a pipe dream rather than reality."

Crowd for yesterday's football was just 119. Goole lost, 0-3 to Hallam, to remain rooted to the foot of the Northern Counties East League's Premier Division (the ninth tier of English football). Given the size of the crowds Goole Vikings are likely to attract next season, surely it is inevitable the football club will play second fiddle to rugby league?

Got chatting to the bloke standing next to me. Turned out to be a Doncaster RLFC (and Goole AFC) supporter, going back to Tattersfield in the 1970s. He's looking forward to watching Goole Vikings games. Could be Vikings' hopes of becoming a lot of semi-local rugby league fans' 'second team' might not be far off the mark.

So pub team playing at a council facility being upgraded using Government money doesn't want semi-pro team to share said facility and widen the town's sporting offering? Football types: so entitled/blinkered.

https://www.gooletowndeal.co.uk/spotlight-on-the-victoria-pleasure-ground/

[Billy King's Boots]

13 hours ago, RayCee said:

Really? Nine away games in a row? Is there a reason for that? 
 

Probably the window for laying their new plastic carpet

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

Football types: so entitled/blinkered.

Goole Town Council, together with the Goole Town Deal Board, is delighted to announce that its application for grant funding from the Football Foundation has been successful, securing more than £2.2 million towards ambitious plans to refurbish the town’s Victoria Pleasure Ground.

Via the Football Foundation, the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government will provide 31 per cent of the total £7,266,385 million cost of the project.

https://www.gooletowndeal.co.uk/football-foundation-to-provide-2-2-million-in-grant-funding-towards-victoria-pleasure-ground-plans/

[JonM]

For context - a team which is bottom of the 9th tier in a league where all of the teams are in Yorkshire or former Humberside is getting a £7 million upgrade to its facilities. The RFL turnover (not profit) was £15 million in 2023 (the RL Commercial turnover of £36 million, mostly from the SL TV rights, is now counted separately).

[Gomersall]

https://x.com/goole_vikingsrl/status/1862202429447524545?s=61

[Fevrover]

1 hour ago, Gomersall said:

https://x.com/goole_vikingsrl/status/1862202429447524545?s=61