London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

6 hours ago, Archie Gordon said:

Another reason to reconsider the use of AFCW.

To be fair you could say same about any ground where Brncos aren’t primary users…another faux pas of DH…

[Londonbornirishbred]

As I hunker down as Wellington is battered by 130kmph winds, I have been reflecting on a bunch of "what if's" in terms of The London Broncos.

What if, when we were on the brink of bankruptcy in 2004, the other SL clubs hadn't voted to keep us in?

What if, when Ian bought Wigan, he had been allowed to remain a shareholder at Harlequins RL?

What if, when hughes first spat his dummy in 2013, the RFL/SL hadn't bribed the owner of Barnet to take us in?

We have had many many near misses, but this period is the most uncertain time I can recall in my close ro 25 years following the club.....and it brings me back ro the biggest WHAT IF of all.

What if, when handed the club at the end of 2007 with an average gate of 3,900, David Hughes had spent a % of his alleged £30,000,000 and the £25,000,000 or so of central funding on trying to add say, 5% to the gate? By simple compound interest, Plough Lane wouldnt be big enough to hold our average gate and we wouldn't need a new owner or a sugar daddy to prop us up.

As I say, it's stormy here and I am bored, but it does make tou think about the merit or pitfall of again giving us a leg up without a concrete and well investigated business plan with at least a 10 year target and regular checks on KPI's.

[Anita Bath]

well investigated business plan with at least 10 year targets and regular checks on KPIs?

 

This is the rugby football league we are talking about…..whenever have they required that? Most ‘expansion’ clubs dont expect to last that long. But well done to the few that did ( sheffield, north wales….) it wasnt because of the above criteria.

[Londonbornirishbred]

49 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

well investigated business plan with at least 10 year targets and regular checks on KPIs?

 

This is the rugby football league we are talking about…..whenever have they required that? Most ‘expansion’ clubs dont expect to last that long. But well done to the few that did ( sheffield, north wales….) it wasnt because of the above criteria.

Sheffield and North Wales, like the London Broncos survive on benevolence. Not an ideal business plan and certainly not one geared towards success. 

The most successful clubs in the SL era, Leeds, Saints and Wigan all have a good home attendance average. Teams knicking on the door like Wire, Catalans and HKR have grown their bases...all rhese clubs have "helpful" owners, but they are also well run businesses rhat can survive on their own. Expansion clubs, even the liles of Melbourne Storm need more than good wishes and volunteers to survive 

Edited April 30 by Londonbornirishbred

[Henson Park Old Firm]

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-league-news-leeds-rhinos-gary-hetherington-new-club-confirmed-appointed-director-104048/

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

12 hours ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-league-news-leeds-rhinos-gary-hetherington-new-club-confirmed-appointed-director-104048/

Be interesting to see if he is at the game

today. 

[Eddie]

So does anyone actually know who’s taking over the Broncos and when? 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

No sign of him yesterday. Guess he was at Magic weekend ? 

On 02/05/2025 at 22:41, Henson Park Old Firm said:

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-league-news-leeds-rhinos-gary-hetherington-new-club-confirmed-appointed-director.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

So does anyone actually know who’s taking over the Broncos and when? 

They better hurry up, they are on the cusp of League One

[THE RED ROOSTER]

This lists the people and Gary Hetherington's appointment lodged on 2nd May

London Rugby League - Companies House

This is the timelibne for the move of the club offices to Rosslyn Park RFC on 25th February 2025.

LONDON RUGBY LEAGUE LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

So does anyone actually know who’s taking over the Broncos and when? 

Apparently it's Al's Kebab Shop, Billabong Street, Cowra, NSW a week on Wednesday.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

14 minutes ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Apparently it's Al's Kebab Shop, Billabong Street, Cowra, NSW a week on Wednesday.

[The Future is League]

2 hours ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

Apparently it's Al's Kebab Shop, Billabong Street, Cowra, NSW a week on Wednesday.

I was told it was Syds Cafe from "Last of the Summer wine" 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

3 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

I was told it was Syds Cafe from "Last of the Summer wine" 

That’s the new RFL Head Office.

[The Future is League]

Just now, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

That’s the new RFL Head Office.

Another cost cutting exercise by the RFL which wouldn't surprise me 

[Eddie]

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

That’s the new RFL Head Office.

It’s too far from the M62

[DEANO]

Think I’ll be done with rl if London get relegated into super league

[Gomersall]

 

[Coggo]

21 May now, apparently. Will believe it when see it. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

34 minutes ago, Coggo said:

21 May now, apparently. Will believe it when see it. 

 

 

[SixSet]

Hopefully, in just a few days time, ME (or GH, or other) will emerge onto some balcony, somewhere, and announce "habemus salvatorem" and the Broncos faithful will fall to their knees - with gratitude and relief - that they may not need a miracle, after all, to see this season through to League 1 but can glimpse some light at the end of the proverbial !

An ascension to some NRL-celestial SL will be beyond most fans' prayers (and, let's be honest, under the current circumstances, most likely an unfair advantage) but a London reset reboot restart might just enable southern RL followers to start believing again.
( Apologies if any of that was sacrilegious - no offence to the heartlands cult ! )

Edited May 8 by SixSet

[Henson Park Old Firm]

9 hours ago, SixSet said:

Hopefully, in just a few days time, ME (or GH, or other) will emerge onto some balcony, somewhere, and announce "habemus salvatorem" and the Broncos faithful will fall to their knees - with gratitude and relief - that they may not need a miracle, after all, to see this season through to League 1 but can glimpse some light at the end of the proverbial !

An ascension to some NRL-celestial SL will be beyond most fans' prayers (and, let's be honest, under the current circumstances, most likely an unfair advantage) but a London reset reboot restart might just enable southern RL followers to start believing again.
( Apologies if any of that was sacrilegious - no offence to the heartlands cult ! )

All good... I'm a proud Catholic, a little bit of fun doesn't hurt anyone.

[Angelus]

https://www.londonbroncosrl.com/squad-announcement-london-broncos-vs-sheffield-eagles

 

Squad announced for the Sheffield game.

 

Major positives are getting O'Beirne back and managing to somehow get Jack Farrimond down from Wigan. We couldn't handle him in the 2 games against us last year.

 

Negatives are no Bienek again and Waine has returned to Bradford!

 

Cautiously optimistic for a narrow win 

[r1ch1e]

Will be another stadium ticked off watching the Broncos at home on Sunday. Top of my head it'll be the 6th one for me.

Agree with the above poster that it's a pretty strong squad, should be a good game!

[Gooleboy]

34 minutes ago, r1ch1e said:

Will be another stadium ticked off watching the Broncos at home on Sunday. Top of my head it'll be the 6th one for me.

Agree with the above poster that it's a pretty strong squad, should be a good game!

They really have had a nomadic existence. My Club Featherstone have played them on several grounds in the Capital. The ones I can recall are: Fulham FC, Chiswick Polytechnic, Crystal Palace, Hendon FC, Ealing, Harlequins RUFC and AFC Wimbledon.