London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[tim2]

On 25/01/2025 at 15:11, ricky said:

2024: Super League 

2025: our opponents had the benefit of playing a friendly!!

As Larkin almost said, quality drops off like a coastal shelf.

Do yourself a favour
and never invest in London RL yourself

I'm sure that's how the poem ended.

[EssexRL]

I hate to say it but this feels like the place Skolars was in, four years ago. Rumours of an investor which kept the club limping on, despite not having a competitive team (ironically due to the players who left for Broncos). Glimmers of hope including an article in The Guardian and then nothing and...collapse. I hope I am wrong and a serious buyer(s) arrive and invest in the team or a season of defeats and relegation seems to await. 

Rapid decline is easy, sustainable growth is hard.

[ricky]

5 hours ago, tim2 said:

Without your moneyed saviour,

Quality drops off like a coastal shelf,

Do yourself a favour,

and never invest in London Rugby League yourself

 

[westlondonfan]

There are so many questions really. An obvious one is how long will be at Wimbledon now?

With  the loss of Skolars from the professional ranks I really do hope that the Broncos can survive.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

The darkest hour is just before dawn…

[Henson Park Old Firm]

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

The darkest hour is just before dawn…

What does that mean?

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Just now, Henson Park Old Firm said:

What does that mean?

It means don’t give upon the club. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

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

It means don’t give upon the club. 

True, but they did start the idea of a Brisbane Bronco take over....

[EssexRL]

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

It means don’t give upon the club. 

Sadly as I found out with Skolars it takes more than belief to keep a club going down here.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Reading comments from Mike Eccles that are on the public domain, it is the issue of the use of Wimbledon,s ground that caused the club (Eccles and Loubster) to turn down an offer to buy the club.

If you are investing in rugby league then you need a business model that minimises costs not playing at three venues this season, Wimbledon, Rosslyn Park and Northfleet,with two venues incurring soccer stewarding costs something you do not get with the rugby codes.

But Mike Eccles is committed to a return to Super League so has said its Wimbledon or bust.

How long this will last with sub 1,000 crowds rattling round Wimbledon and no one it would appear willing to fund this business model remains to be seen..

 

 

 

 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

It's definitely dragging on now.

[newbe]

As this topic drags on about the demise of Broncos n now Skolars in the the South some good news. After dropping out of League1 n playing in lower leagues Hemel Stags,have decided to move to a higher league this season, with the intention of going to the Southern Conference League in 2026, with predominantly the same group of players from there U16's 3/4 years ago. Plus the bonus of owning there own facilities. That's why the RFL hold the majority or there festivals at Pennine Way. The club slips under the radar, but after 40 years it still keeps going. Plus it is still a pathway to Broncos. 

Edited January 30 by newbe

[Hemel Rugby League]

Been going 44 years at the same site - Pennine Way - and next month sees the 40th anniversary of the opening of its first modest social club by Barla's Maurice Oldroyd which was the first step in building the now Pennine Way Sports Stadium.

Edited January 30 by Hemel Rugby League

[Londonbornirishbred]

On 29/01/2025 at 07:46, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

The darkest hour is just before dawn…

There's light at the end of the tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's hope it isn't a train!

[lucky 7]

14 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

Reading comments from Mike Eccles that are on the public domain, it is the issue of the use of Wimbledon,s ground that caused the club (Eccles and Loubster) to turn down an offer to buy the club.

If you are investing in rugby league then you need a business model that minimises costs not playing at three venues this season, Wimbledon, Rosslyn Park and Northfleet,with two venues incurring soccer stewarding costs something you do not get with the rugby codes.

But Mike Eccles is committed to a return to Super League so has said its Wimbledon or bust.

How long this will last with sub 1,000 crowds rattling round Wimbledon and no one it would appear willing to fund this business model remains to be seen..

 

 

 

 

Are the Broncos playing any games at Ebbsfleet FC this season?

[THE RED ROOSTER]

6 hours ago, lucky 7 said:

Are the Broncos playing any games at Ebbsfleet FC this season?

5th July v Halifax and 12th July v Doncaster both with 5.00pm kickoff times. Not handy for those coming from the north.

Apologies about Ebbsfleet folks it s just that to get to Kufflink stadium you get off at Northfleet station which 8 minutes walk away and I do not follow Soccer much and I am getting on a bit mea culp mea maxima culpa....

[lucky 7]

37 minutes ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

5th July v Halifax and 12th July v Doncaster both with 5.00pm kickoff times. Not handy for those coming from the north.

Apologies about Ebbsfleet folks it s just that to get to Kufflink stadium you get off at Northfleet station which 8 minutes walk away and I do not follow Soccer much and I am getting on a bit mea culp mea maxima culpa....

It's about a 8 minute walk from Ebbsfleet international station according to my research, and you get on at St Pancras station and it's non stop to Ebbsfleet international station. 

I can't see many fans travelling there and back on match day unless they have relatives in the area and stay overnight and go back home next morning.

[Just Browny]

59 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

It's about a 8 minute walk from Ebbsfleet international station according to my research, and you get on at St Pancras station and it's non stop to Ebbsfleet international station. 

I can't see many fans travelling there and back on match day unless they have relatives in the area and stay overnight and go back home next morning.

For northern away fans, the difference between Wimbledon and Ebbsfleet is non-existent. Google suggests about the same duration from West Yorkshire by public transport, a little bit longer to get to Wimbledon by car.

The difference is if you're a London based London fan. Obviously depends where you live, but going to be an hour to an hour and a half each way from almost anywhere on the south and west sides of London where the Broncos have generally been based.

[JonM]

3 hours ago, Just Browny said:

For northern away fans, the difference between Wimbledon and Ebbsfleet is non-existent. Google suggests about the same duration from West Yorkshire by public transport, a little bit longer to get to Wimbledon by car.

The difference is if you're a London based London fan. Obviously depends where you live, but going to be an hour to an hour and a half each way from almost anywhere on the south and west sides of London where the Broncos have generally been based.

Exactly. Ebbsfleet is hugely easier for northern away fans travelling by car (which is most of them) than Wimbledon or Rosslyn Park, as you don't have to drive into London at all. It's a right pain if you're a resident of West London travelling on public transport.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

New signing:

https://www.londonbroncosrl.com/london-broncos-sign-christopher-hellec

[The Daddy]

On 30/01/2025 at 10:06, Henson Park Old Firm said:

It's definitely dragging on now.

It's not. Mike Eccles said it would take a few weeks and that's how things are playing out. 

[welshmagpie]

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

New signing:

https://www.londonbroncosrl.com/london-broncos-sign-christopher-hellec

Watched a lot of Hellec over the winter. His link play is very good, it’s his defence that lets him down. Hopefully Eccles can work on that - otherwise a good signing. 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Strengthened coaching staff too as London Chargers head coach Marty Hyde has joined coaching staff. 

[Archie Gordon]

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

Strengthened coaching staff too as London Chargers head coach Marty Hyde has joined coaching staff. 

That's good.

However, the coach drain is also a worry for the community game. A couple of our London/SE clubs are now advertising for new head coaches because of this Broncos hiring strategy (I believe).

I am not critical at all btw. Hopefully this builds the stock of experienced coaches in this part of the world. 

[40yearsatlondon]

On 31/01/2025 at 20:13, welshmagpie said:

Watched a lot of Hellec over the winter. His link play is very good, it’s his defence that lets him down. Hopefully Eccles can work on that - otherwise a good signing. 

looks a decent kicker too