London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Assistant physio job advertised now as well.

[nadera78]

22 minutes ago, The 4 of Us said:

First and foremost. The stadium. It would give them a home they’ve never had. Bricks and mortar. An asset. It looks like the community trust can’t stand the losses. They only want to compete in the EFL, not the Premiership. If it means someone covering the immediate losses then that might be cheap in the context of usual cost to Broncos for stadium hire and the rest.There’s potential savings in the back office, something that Wigan are doing more of. 
 

A minority interest perhaps but it puts down some roots. And if done properly the Wimbledon fans might see the Broncos as kindred spirits rather than potential cuckoos in the nest. That can’t help but build bridges.

Who mentioned the PL? Wimbledon are struggling to survive in L1, realistically their level is L2. They lose money every single year and will do forever and a day with no prospect of that ever changing. If Lockyer bought a minority of AFCW, he would still be on the hook for the costs - whether that's in the form of annual rent or a contribution to AFCW running costs - so there's no real saving. And it wouldn't be an asset for the Broncos anyway, it would be the owners who then owned part of AFCW and Plough Lane.

None of which gets away from the fact that the owners have a hell of a job on just getting the Broncos right, the last thing they need is the distraction of a failing football team.

[gingerjon]

32 minutes ago, The 4 of Us said:

First and foremost. The stadium. It would give them a home they’ve never had. Bricks and mortar. An asset. It looks like the community trust can’t stand the losses. They only want to compete in the EFL, not the Premiership. If it means someone covering the immediate losses then that might be cheap in the context of usual cost to Broncos for stadium hire and the rest.There’s potential savings in the back office, something that Wigan are doing more of. 
 

A minority interest perhaps but it puts down some roots. And if done properly the Wimbledon fans might see the Broncos as kindred spirits rather than potential cuckoos in the nest. That can’t help but build bridges.

We've already punted close to a million quid to AFC Wimbledon, assuming the rental figures are broadly right. The football club will always have primacy of tenure or else they can't play in the league.

There are smart ways of doing it (way beyond my level of knowledge), and Broncos should never stop looking, but responding here with cash to soccer would not be the way to do it.

[Big Picture]

2 hours ago, The 4 of Us said:

First and foremost. The stadium. It would give them a home they’ve never had. Bricks and mortar. An asset. It looks like the community trust can’t stand the losses. They only want to compete in the EFL, not the Premiership. If it means someone covering the immediate losses then that might be cheap in the context of usual cost to Broncos for stadium hire and the rest.There’s potential savings in the back office, something that Wigan are doing more of. 

Or the Broncos could offer to buy just the stadium, that would give the soccer club a cash injection without putting the RL club on the hook for soccer related expenses.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

As of today, the Championship season starts in nine weeks’ time. Let that sink in. The club appears woefully underprepared for the Championship season as it would have been for Super League admission. Although there has been some welcome resigning’s of Broncos players from last year. It is still the Broncos curse of basically putting a new XIII on the park at the start of each season.

Despite comment to the contrary, London will not walk the Championship next year if not fully prepared as due to the publicity around the takeover the Broncos have a target on their back as the team to beat. This is many championship clubs “grand final” and to use a hackneyed phrase. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

One of the things that troubled me about the interview given by Darren Lockyer and Grant Wechsel to James Graham was the emphasis on South London which is not where the current fan base is. Now the club may build a local fanbase over the next 10-15 years but for the moment the fanbase is scattered around the southeast as evidenced by some of the usernames on the TRL forum.

London is not Brisbane, it is like Townsville home of the North Queensland Cowboys, a regional team not a locally based one and the matchdays and kick-off times should reflect this. I spent the first 24 years of my life in the Tooting / Wimbledon area; it was not ideal rugby league territory then and even less so at the time of writing. That’s why the club needs to embrace being a team for London and the Southeast as a region.

Following last year experimentation with matchdays and kick off times. there is nothing stopping the club setting out it’s matchday be it Saturday or Sunday, now.  A kick off time that allows fans to travel to and from the game. Now I have advocated for Saturday as anyone who lives in the southeast will know weekend engineering works normally affect Sunday travel more than the preceding day.

I have reason to believe that Ebbsfleet may not be used next year, it featured in the last online questionnaire to fans. Now while the staff at Ebbsfleet ere very helpful. The fact remains it is an a**e to get to and not exactly a modern stadium. I went to both games last season there and from mid-Kent it involved two changes of train and as long to travel as to Plough Lane or Rosslyn Park. Something our Aussie benefactors may not be aware with South London as a concept is that it is easier to get in and out of London that it is to get across London on public transport.

As a rough guide to London Fixtures, in the early part of the year, AFC Wimbledon’s Home Matchdays in 2026 are as follows:

• Saturday 10^th January
• Saturday 17^th January (Championship starting weekend)
• Saturday 31^st January
• Saturday 7^th February (Super League clubs join challenge cup)
• Saturday 21^st February
• Saturday 7^th March
• Saturday 21^st March
• Monday 6^th April
• Saturday 18^th April
• Saturday 2^nd May

None of these weekends would feature a London Broncos game with the potential exception of Easter weekend of Good Friday 3^rd April.

We need to sort out trial games, venues and the full range of season ticket options pronto. Come to think of it a pre-Christmas fan forum would not be remiss.

BTW, I agree that pumping money into a soccer club is simply not the way to go. Soccer fans be it Charlton, Brentford, Barnet or AFC Wimbledon do not se the club as anything other than a revenue generator for their sport.

If club insiders are not already reading this forum, they should be because although the views posted are of individual fans it is an indicator of the concerns of at least a chunk of the fanbase.

[The 4 of Us]

3 hours ago, nadera78 said:

Who mentioned the PL? Wimbledon are struggling to survive in L1, realistically their level is L2. They lose money every single year and will do forever and a day with no prospect of that ever changing. If Lockyer bought a minority of AFCW, he would still be on the hook for the costs - whether that's in the form of annual rent or a contribution to AFCW running costs - so there's no real saving. And it wouldn't be an asset for the Broncos anyway, it would be the owners who then owned part of AFCW and Plough Lane.

None of which gets away from the fact that the owners have a hell of a job on just getting the Broncos right, the last thing they need is the distraction of a failing football team.

You’re misreading what I said. I said they don’t appear to want PL as they are referring to surviving in the EFL. 

[Deadcowboys1]

2 hours ago, Big Picture said:

Or the Broncos could offer to buy just the stadium, that would give the soccer club a cash injection without putting the RL club on the hook for soccer related expenses.

Do you seriously believe AFC would sell the stadium, which has been at the heart of their formation? 

[Big Picture]

8 minutes ago, Deadcowboys1 said:

Do you seriously believe AFC would sell the stadium, which has been at the heart of their formation? 

If they need money badly enough and that's their best option then they'd gave to.

[Deadcowboys1]

5 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

If they need money badly enough and that's their best option then they'd gave to.

That wouldn't be their best option though would it? From their perspective, selling up to 49% of the club would keep them in control. After all their fans have experience of Ron Noades, Sam Hammam & Pete Winkleman to not want to relinquish control to anyone else.

[Big Picture]

Just now, Deadcowboys1 said:

That wouldn't be their best option though would it? From their perspective, selling up to 49% of the club would keep them in control. After all their fans have experience of Ron Noades, Sam Hammam & Pete Winkleman to not want to relinquish control to anyone else.

That depends what other offers they might get doesn't it. Alternatively the Broncos could buy the soccer club and the stadium and then sell the soccer club off.

 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Just now, Big Picture said:

That depends what other offers they might get doesn't it. Alternatively the Broncos could buy the soccer club and the stadium and then sell the soccer club off.

 

Which would result in massive protests. It’s not worth it. The club needs to Work with not against AFC and their supporters. 

[Gomersall]

 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

4 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

As of today, the Championship season starts in nine weeks’ time. Let that sink in. The club appears woefully underprepared for the Championship season as it would have been for Super League admission. Although there has been some welcome resigning’s of Broncos players from last year. It is still the Broncos curse of basically putting a new XIII on the park at the start of each season.

Despite comment to the contrary, London will not walk the Championship next year if not fully prepared as due to the publicity around the takeover the Broncos have a target on their back as the team to beat. This is many championship clubs “grand final” and to use a hackneyed phrase. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

One of the things that troubled me about the interview given by Darren Lockyer and Grant Wechsel to James Graham was the emphasis on South London which is not where the current fan base is. Now the club may build a local fanbase over the next 10-15 years but for the moment the fanbase is scattered around the southeast as evidenced by some of the usernames on the TRL forum.

London is not Brisbane, it is like Townsville home of the North Queensland Cowboys, a regional team not a locally based one and the matchdays and kick-off times should reflect this. I spent the first 24 years of my life in the Tooting / Wimbledon area; it was not ideal rugby league territory then and even less so at the time of writing. That’s why the club needs to embrace being a team for London and the Southeast as a region.

Following last year experimentation with matchdays and kick off times. there is nothing stopping the club setting out it’s matchday be it Saturday or Sunday, now.  A kick off time that allows fans to travel to and from the game. Now I have advocated for Saturday as anyone who lives in the southeast will know weekend engineering works normally affect Sunday travel more than the preceding day.

I have reason to believe that Ebbsfleet may not be used next year, it featured in the last online questionnaire to fans. Now while the staff at Ebbsfleet ere very helpful. The fact remains it is an a**e to get to and not exactly a modern stadium. I went to both games last season there and from mid-Kent it involved two changes of train and as long to travel as to Plough Lane or Rosslyn Park. Something our Aussie benefactors may not be aware with South London as a concept is that it is easier to get in and out of London that it is to get across London on public transport.

As a rough guide to London Fixtures, in the early part of the year, AFC Wimbledon’s Home Matchdays in 2026 are as follows:

• Saturday 10^th January
• Saturday 17^th January (Championship starting weekend)
• Saturday 31^st January
• Saturday 7^th February (Super League clubs join challenge cup)
• Saturday 21^st February
• Saturday 7^th March
• Saturday 21^st March
• Monday 6^th April
• Saturday 18^th April
• Saturday 2^nd May

None of these weekends would feature a London Broncos game with the potential exception of Easter weekend of Good Friday 3^rd April.

We need to sort out trial games, venues and the full range of season ticket options pronto. Come to think of it a pre-Christmas fan forum would not be remiss.

BTW, I agree that pumping money into a soccer club is simply not the way to go. Soccer fans be it Charlton, Brentford, Barnet or AFC Wimbledon do not se the club as anything other than a revenue generator for their sport.

If club insiders are not already reading this forum, they should be because although the views posted are of individual fans it is an indicator of the concerns of at least a chunk of the fanbase.

I would hope that the two physio positions are being advertised means that the club are beginning their non playing recruitment. Better late than never. 

Also having looked at the pictures released the other day with M Maguire, the ‘HQ’ doesn’t look like Rosslyn Park as it’s clearly not a portacabin. The framed shirt on the wall says Arundell - wasn’t he London Irish ?  

Edited November 15 by Pen-Y-Bont Crusader

[Londonbornirishbred]

21 minutes ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

I would hope that the two physio positions are being advertised means that the club are beginning their non playing recruitment. Better late than never. 

Also having looked at the pictures released the other day with M Maguire, the ‘HQ’ doesn’t look like Rosslyn Park as it’s clearly not a portacabin. The framed shirt on the wall says Arundell - wasn’t he London Irish ?  

HAZELWOOD is owned by London Irish Amateurs....

[Londonbornirishbred]

1 hour ago, Gomersall said:

 

£1,799

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Gomersall said:

 

Yeah, not sure they’re quite reading the market right …

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

14 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Yeah, not sure they’re quite reading the market right …

What’s the equivalent package at likes of bulls ? 

[Londonbornirishbred]

18 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

If club insiders are not already reading this forum, they should be because although the views posted are of individual fans it is an indicator of the concerns of at least a chunk of the fanbase.

Alas, a great number of the FANS who got meet and speak to the new owners will have given the impression that EVERYONE will be like them. Both you and I know that is not the case. My asking about a shirt for xmas was purely selfish as I would like to get a new RL shirt and this will be the 5th logo in 25 years, but if there is any truth to the 37 ST sales thus far.

#1 could be those 37 ST owners.

There was a post on FB earlier where an existing fan said 1,799 was too much and he was told that he should go away, because he would soon be on his own....this lot of ultras are anything but welcoming.

The its not just a northern thing was thought up on a terrace and would be great if it was a fan driven fundraiser for the club, but like the sword(s) and the redsox and even the logo, if this was run by anyone, it will be a handful of ultras with a real Millwall attitude. And because the Australian owners ans their Australian consultancy have not s single clue about London sports, they are listening to a handful of ultras...the same Ultras that worshipped Hughes as he sank the ship. It still just feels like a half rebrand rather than a relaunch and the squad being assembled are off to pastures new, some within a single year

[THE RED ROOSTER]

15 hours ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

I would hope that the two physio positions are being advertised means that the club are beginning their non playing recruitment. Better late than never. 

Also having looked at the pictures released the other day with M Maguire, the ‘HQ’ doesn’t look like Rosslyn Park as it’s clearly not a portacabin. The framed shirt on the wall says Arundell - wasn’t he London Irish ?  

Confirmed as Arete Performance Centre in Sunbury . The old London Irish training ground as Gutterfax has posted, now used by a number of Rugby Union clubs and was once the subject of speculation of an NFL bid for the facilities for any future London / European franchise. It makes more sense than Woking as a training base.

 https://www.arete-performance.com/sunbury-facility

I do not know if this means th club offices have moved to Sunbury from Rosslyn Park as London Rugby League Lilmited are still listed with the Clubs Office at Rosslyn Park.

 London Rugby League Limited

This is interesting and recently set up ?

LONDON BRONCOS SUPPORTERS SOCIETY LIMITED

[gingerjon]

14 hours ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

What’s the equivalent package at likes of bulls ? 

Can't see one but looks like they sell hospitality on a match by match basis and sponsorship separately?

[westlondonfan]

37 doesn’t sound many but it is only the Gold season ticket on sale at the moment the last time that I looked. 

[JonM]

22 hours ago, Deadcowboys1 said:

Do you seriously believe AFC would sell the stadium, which has been at the heart of their formation? 

Seems equally unlikely that Weschel and Lockyer have the £50 million or so that the stadium would be worth. 

[PREPOSTEROUS]

 

A quality signing for London. Will go under the radar but hes a real grafter and should be playing in SL. Surprised York, Bradford ot Toulouse didnt pick him up. 

[Archie Gordon]

6 hours ago, Londonbornirishbred said:

...

There was a post on FB earlier where an existing fan said 1,799 was too much and he was told that he should go away, because he would soon be on his own....this lot of ultras are anything but welcoming.

...

Saw that and winced, moreso because it is repeated behaviour. You'd think the LB facebook admin would step in.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

7 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

Saw that and winced, moreso because it is repeated behaviour. You'd think the LB facebook admin would step in.

Maybe they are part of the same cabal…