Jump to content

Lindsay Anfield - Coach of the Year


Recommended Posts

York Valkyrie have been so depleted by injuries and illness throughout the season.  At times it was a challenge just to get a team out on the pitch. It was inconceivable that they could get anywhere near the Grand Final, let alone win it in the League Leaders' own back yard. Lindsay Anfield has had to oversee this adversity all year and time and again has come up with solutions, culminating in a master game plan in the final match.

With such tactical acumen and motivational skills she is clearly in a class of her own as Coach of the Year.

Oh, wait a minute. The RFL, in their "wisdom" decided weeks ago not to include her in a shortlist of three. How could they possibly be so short-sighted?  Whoever is eventually declared the "winner" of the trophy will surely know that he/she is an imposter.  This will be an utter travesty. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Barrow coach for mine, not only surviving but to finish 5th is a massive achievement. Won't be easy attracting players to play up there so they have a very limited player pool and when you compare that to the likes of York and Leeds who can just splash some cash to bring in talent, Barrow have the biggest over achievement in the league by some distance in my opinion.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Barrow coach for mine, not only surviving but to finish 5th is a massive achievement. Won't be easy attracting players to play up there so they have a very limited player pool and when you compare that to the likes of York and Leeds who can just splash some cash to bring in talent, Barrow have the biggest over achievement in the league by some distance in my opinion.

Certainly compared to Warrington and Huddersfield!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Barrow coach for mine, not only surviving but to finish 5th is a massive achievement. Won't be easy attracting players to play up there so they have a very limited player pool and when you compare that to the likes of York and Leeds who can just splash some cash to bring in talent, Barrow have the biggest over achievement in the league by some distance in my opinion.

I agree that newly promoted Barrow have done really well to be the best of the rest but I don't know how you can equate the resources of York and Leeds.  St Helens, Wigan and Leeds are Super League giants and always have been.  York have never been at that level and probably never will be. York are more on a par with Barrow as regards resources, fan base, etc., although they have an advantage in location. 

As I understand it, the Valkyrie are virtually self-funded (by sponsorship, etc.), which makes it all the more impressive that they are able to compete with, let alone beat the top teams.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’d go for Anfield without a doubt. To be fair to the people who come up with the shortlist, it’s done before the end of the season because of the timing of the (Wo)Man of Steel dinner. It’s crazy to present awards without taking the most important games into consideration because occasionally this sort of thing will happen. What Anfield has done this season alone makes her one of the best coaches I’ve ever seen. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

I agree that newly promoted Barrow have done really well to be the best of the rest but I don't know how you can equate the resources of York and Leeds.  St Helens, Wigan and Leeds are Super League giants and always have been.  York have never been at that level and probably never will be. York are more on a par with Barrow as regards resources, fan base, etc., although they have an advantage in location. 

As I understand it, the Valkyrie are virtually self-funded (by sponsorship, etc.), which makes it all the more impressive that they are able to compete with, let alone beat the top teams.

 

York were way ahead of the curve when it came to womens RL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, WRLFan said:

York pay some of their big players a lot more than Leeds do! 

 

Does this really matter?  Many of those same players were playing for nothing two years ago, grateful if they even got expenses.  I believe their commitment is mainly emotional rather than financial. Just listen to the way they talk about being a "family".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

55 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

Does this really matter?  Many of those same players were playing for nothing two years ago, grateful if they even got expenses.  I believe their commitment is mainly emotional rather than financial. Just listen to the way they talk about being a "family".

My comment was a response to York not being at the same level as leeds

That’s not actually true. York spend a lot of money on their squad and pay towards the girls that play for Sheffield!!

York did show a massive collective as a squad and that’s lacking at some clubs and all credit to them

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, RigbyLuger said:

I look forward to our national media reporting on them with gusto! 

The report in the Guardian talks more not about the game than the actual action on the field.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/06/york-valkyrie-see-off-st-helens-to-secure-historic-back-to-back-league-titles

According to the writer, York are "in a region not synonymous with RL". Lindsay Anfield says they are "a small club from a non-RL area".

Heard and read similar comments before. Am I the only one to whom they appear rather off-beam?

York were founded in 1868 and admitted to the Northern Union in 1901. They were consistently one of the bigger and better-supported second division clubs when I started following Swinton in the early 80s.

Numerous pro Soccer clubs have played in the second tier or below for most of their existence. We don't see these painted as representing non-Soccer areas.

Shades of Aussies urging "development" of League in NZ. Apparently oblivious that the Auckland RL is almost as old as the New South Wales RL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, unapologetic pedant said:

According to the writer, York are "in a region not synonymous with RL". Lindsay Anfield says they are "a small club from a non-RL area".

Heard and read similar comments before. Am I the only one to whom they appear rather off-beam?

York were founded in 1868 and admitted to the Northern Union in 1901. They were consistently one of the bigger and better-supported second division clubs when I started following Swinton in the early 80s.

Numerous pro Soccer clubs have played in the second tier or below for most of their existence. We don't see these painted as representing non-Soccer areas.

Shades of Aussies urging "development" of League in NZ. Apparently oblivious that the Auckland RL is almost as old as the New South Wales RL.

Yep , York losing pay was better than some teams winning pay , some weeks the Sunday attendance beat City footy crowd the previous day , both having their own stadiums at the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Stirlin said:

Yep , York losing pay was better than some teams winning pay , some weeks the Sunday attendance beat City footy crowd the previous day , both having their own stadiums at the time.

Attendances in the 70s and 80s were 3-4000, while York City were only getting 2000.  Interest seemed to wane when the club moved to Huntington Stadium, coincidentally on the same site as the present LNER.

It's great to see the Knights doing well in a lovely modern stadium and City's crowds have actually doubled since the move.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, at least Georgie Hetherington deservedly got Woman of Steel  -  three in a row now for the Valkyrie!  Some compensation that Lindsay was overlooked for Coach of the Year.  I wonder if Matty Smith was even a bit embarrassed to receive that award.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Double Knock On said:

1. York do not pay their top players any more than Leeds pay theirs, and in some cases less

2. York's top players are paid less than top players at Saints

3. York do not pay players from Sheffield or their expenses

All Leeds players get the same money for playing. Nothing for losing and 2 levels for winning. They get more for winning against the big 3 and less for the bottom 4

Rumours I’ve heard are Saints pay the most but I’ve also heard there’s a tiered structure at York

dual reg players at Sheffield do get paid and expenses so maybe Sheffield pay that?? 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 08/10/2024 at 17:43, HolmeKnight said:

Attendances in the 70s and 80s were 3-4000, while York City were only getting 2000.  Interest seemed to wane when the club moved to Huntington Stadium, coincidentally on the same site as the present LNER.

It's great to see the Knights doing well in a lovely modern stadium and City's crowds have actually doubled since the move.

Not a nice place to be in the colder months with the open ends allowing the wind to blast straight through , never been a fan of running track between you and the action , soulless place all round.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, WRLFan said:

All Leeds players get the same money for playing. Nothing for losing and 2 levels for winning. They get more for winning against the big 3 and less for the bottom 4

Rumours I’ve heard are Saints pay the most but I’ve also heard there’s a tiered structure at York

dual reg players at Sheffield do get paid and expenses so maybe Sheffield pay that?? 

 

When Sheffield have spoken to players(other than from York) to try and get them to go there its usually £50 payment per game that is mentioned. I would be very surprised if York don't contribute to the players they send there but then again Sheffield may just be happy to have that bit of extra quality going to them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do find it odd that any discussion on payments to women players seems to be haunted by the spirit of Revd Frank Marshall....

If anyone seriously thinks that York's victories have been bought by the enormous financial muscle of a part-time Championship club, outspending poor Leeds, Wigan and Saints, just spit it out !

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, RBKnight said:

I do find it odd that any discussion on payments to women players seems to be haunted by the spirit of Revd Frank Marshall....

If anyone seriously thinks that York's victories have been bought by the enormous financial muscle of a part-time Championship club, outspending poor Leeds, Wigan and Saints, just spit it out !

 

And Huddersfield "going professional" as well!!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, RBKnight said:

I do find it odd that any discussion on payments to women players seems to be haunted by the spirit of Revd Frank Marshall....

If anyone seriously thinks that York's victories have been bought by the enormous financial muscle of a part-time Championship club, outspending poor Leeds, Wigan and Saints, just spit it out !

 

I'm not sure that is what has been said. From a perspective purely from the womans game, it is hard to deny that York have a pretty good pick of which players they want and up untill this season really did not have much competition when it comes down to paying players. I think we are deluding ourselves if we think money that Saints, Leeds, Wigan, and Huddersfield pay their players comes directly from the main club as we know clubs like that don't like their money going anywhere else but on players on the mens teams.

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.