London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[Click]

1 hour ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

That was me. Wrong subject though.

Thank you for letting us know! 

Keep up the great work though, as someone who is born and bred South London I have always thought that RL is really well suited to our demographics on so many different levels.

[JM2010]

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

All four debuted today cheered on by 8 others from school including both the head and the deputy head. Whilst they lost heavily they loved every second and learned so much - they’ve never played on grass before nor have they ever managed more than 7/8 a side in training. Next week aiming for at least 6 or 7 to get a game. 
 

also great that today these countries were represented playing RL:

Nigeria

Jamaica

Sierra Leone

and

St Lucia. 

Genuinely the proudest day of

my 30 years in the job

Are they going to the Wembley test? I’d imagine players like Nsemba, Pearce Paul and Young would be be an inspiration for them 

Edited June 15 by JM2010

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Yes they will be going to Wembley. Yes any positive role models are welcome. One of the lads is big into calisthenics even though he’s only in Year 9 and he’s already offered to help the other lads with it to improve their s and c. He’s a massive role model for the rest of them already. 

[JM2010]

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

Yes they will be going to Wembley. Yes any positive role models are welcome. One of the lads is big into calisthenics even though he’s only in Year 9 and he’s already offered to help the other lads with it to improve their s and c. He’s a massive role model for the rest of them already. 

Just shows how RL can bring people together and hopefully inspire them to be fit and healthy and get involved in a sport. Great stuff from the year 9 lad. Sounds like a bit of a leader.
A stronger London with a big emphasis on community clubs and schools would be a massive positive for the sport and for the young boys and girls who get involved.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

4 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

Just shows how RL can bring people together and hopefully inspire them to be fit and healthy and get involved in a sport. Great stuff from the year 9 lad. Sounds like a bit of a leader.
A stronger London with a big emphasis on community clubs and schools would be a massive positive for the sport and for the young boys and girls who get involved.

He is a real leader and v wise for his age. 

[Gomersall]

 

[Londonbornirishbred]

I have 2 decades+ of being right about the Broncos and I care little for the 100 or se cheerleaders who got their name on a shirt recently......the Reality is that the club, unless someone finds £30,000,000 down the back of a sofa, is destined for tier 2 or 3 for the foreseeable future and Wimbledon's nice shiny ground is not the best solution.

 

Happy to be shown I am wrong, but it's not happened in 25 odd years of me banging on about it and I very much doubt it will be any time soon.

 

I was 100% against the move to trailfinders, but in hindsight. given their treatment by the RFU of late. Ealing is perfect. If London did get promoted back to SL, then by all means go and rent a football stadium, but putting the cart before the horse is what Hughes did and look where that got us...350/400 fans is what they have......WTF are they doing in a stadium that holds close to 10k????

 

Edited June 16 by Londonbornirishbred

[Anita Bath]

20 hours ago, Londonbornirishbred said:

I have 2 decades+ of being right about the Broncos and I care little for the 100 or se cheerleaders who got their name on a shirt recently......the Reality is that the club, unless someone finds £30,000,000 down the back of a sofa, is destined for tier 2 or 3 for the foreseeable future and Wimbledon's nice shiny ground is not the best solution.

 

Happy to be shown I am wrong, but it's not happened in 25 odd years of me banging on about it and I very much doubt it will be any time soon.

 

I was 100% against the move to trailfinders, but in hindsight. given their treatment by the RFU of late. Ealing is perfect. If London did get promoted back to SL, then by all means go and rent a football stadium, but putting the cart before the horse is what Hughes did and look where that got us...350/400 fans is what they have......WTF are they doing in a stadium that holds close to 10k????

 

London need to move home yet again like an alcoholic needs a crate of beer.

 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

24 lads in total at training tonight. 11 will go to Brixton tomorrow. Most of the rest for the u12 session on Thursday (although most of these are fairly weaker being newer to the game - one of the lads is very exciting prospect)
 

Hoping that one of our PE staff (Aussie from Perth) is available to take a squad to emerging schools nines at Hemel next Tuesday and me take the Year 8’s next Thursday.

[JM2010]

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

24 lads in total at training tonight. 11 will go to Brixton tomorrow. Most of the rest for the u12 session on Thursday (although most of these are fairly weaker being newer to the game - one of the lads is very exciting prospect)
 

Hoping that one of our PE staff (Aussie from Perth) is available to take a squad to emerging schools nines at Hemel next Tuesday and me take the Year 8’s next Thursday.

Brixton must be happy. They’ve got themselves 11 new players 

[Gav Wilson]

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

24 lads in total at training tonight. 11 will go to Brixton tomorrow. Most of the rest for the u12 session on Thursday (although most of these are fairly weaker being newer to the game - one of the lads is very exciting prospect)
 

Hoping that one of our PE staff (Aussie from Perth) is available to take a squad to emerging schools nines at Hemel next Tuesday and me take the Year 8’s next Thursday.

Not to be dramatic, you are an absolute hero mate.  

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

1 minute ago, JM2010 said:

Brixton must be happy. They’ve got themselves 11 new players 

That 11 includes the four who debuted at the weekend, but yes it’s increasing their player pool.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Just now, Gav Wilson said:

Not to be dramatic, you are an absolute hero mate.  

Thanks but just trying to do my job. My school’s motto is ‘creating better futures’. Everyone involved down here in community clubs are heroes.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

2 more making U14 debuts this weekend. 6 in total in squad for Saturday. Hoping for an U12 one too after tomorrow’s training. 

[Angelus]

Interesting listen as always from Eccles.

He sounds as positive as ever.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lkb2vk

[The Gardener]

Also that a strategic review is happening at the moment and will know more in four weeks time.

[Click]

11 minutes ago, The Gardener said:

Also that a strategic review is happening at the moment and will know more in four weeks time.

Which strategic review are you referring to?

[SinBinSid]

That mention of a ‘strategic review’ caught my eye too. Has the club actually confirmed this, or was it something vague said at the Q&A that’s now being taken as fact? If there is a proper review going on, it would be good to know what it’s actually about -recruitment, finances, ownership, or something else. And who’s behind it. Otherwise it just feels like more fog.

[Archie Gordon]

I think the strategic review was a reference to the wider club-led review which may or may not report to Council in 4 weeks.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

On a more positive note…

Brixton visited Elmbridge yesterday for U14 game. Two more debuts and a much improved performance from the side despite another loss. Nice to see a women’s session taking place whilst the game was on and despite the men’s team being away to Anglian vipers the volunteers there did a great job and the hot dogs and Lucozade sport for all players after the game in searing temps was excellent. Again our lads making huge strides in learning the game but also wanting more and more learning how to get better.

Our U12 and U16 both had good wins at home.

Edited June 22 by Pen-Y-Bont Crusader

[Magic XIII]

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

On a more positive note…

Brixton visited Elmbridge yesterday for U14 game. Two more debuts and a much improved performance from the side despite another loss. Nice to see a women’s session taking place whilst the game was on and despite the men’s team being away to Anglian vipers the volunteers there did a great job and the hot dogs and Lucozade sport for all players after the game in searing temps was excellent. Again our lads making huge strides in learning the game but also wanting more and more learning how to get better.

Our U12 and U16 both had good wins at home.

Are you coming up to St Albans on Saturday for the u14s game ? Would be nice to say hello

[dealwithit]

On 22/06/2025 at 07:05, Archie Gordon said:

I think the strategic review was a reference to the wider club-led review which may or may not report to Council in 4 weeks.

Yes, Eccles was referring to the Nigel Wood review. With a bit of luck, Hetherington supporting Nigel’s comeback as a sort of quid pro quo. Either that or the SL clubs said “yeah, we want London, but only if Gary runs them.”

Edited June 23 by dealwithit

[Magic XIII]

On 23/06/2025 at 11:15, Magic XIII said:

Are you coming up to St Albans on Saturday for the u14s game ? Would be nice to say hello

Sadly this won't be the case as Brixton u14s have pulled out of the fixture which is unusual so early in the week. St Albans had 4 games scheduled u11 v Brentwood, u13 v Eastern Rhinos / Brentwood combined, u14 v Brixton and u16 v Eastern Rhinos which is incredible given last year the club was running on fumes. We have planned a junior club BBQ to run alongside the games but the Brixton drop out puts paid to 25% of that!

[The Future is League]

6 hours ago, Magic XIII said:

Sadly this won't be the case as Brixton u14s have pulled out of the fixture which is unusual so early in the week. St Albans had 4 games scheduled u11 v Brentwood, u13 v Eastern Rhinos / Brentwood combined, u14 v Brixton and u16 v Eastern Rhinos which is incredible given last year the club was running on fumes. We have planned a junior club BBQ to run alongside the games but the Brixton drop out puts paid to 25% of that!

Disappointing that Brixton have had to pull out.

[RP London]

22 hours ago, Magic XIII said:

Sadly this won't be the case as Brixton u14s have pulled out of the fixture which is unusual so early in the week. St Albans had 4 games scheduled u11 v Brentwood, u13 v Eastern Rhinos / Brentwood combined, u14 v Brixton and u16 v Eastern Rhinos which is incredible given last year the club was running on fumes. We have planned a junior club BBQ to run alongside the games but the Brixton drop out puts paid to 25% of that!

TBF while teams pulling out is never great at least they have given some notice rather than pulling out late in the week, means the potential that you dont have to buy the food/can find a replacement team. These things happen but, as I say, early in the week is much better than later.