widnes

[american]

first i'm hearing of this

https://widnesvikings.co.uk/statement-incorrect-reports-of-special-measures/


 

[doc]

Started hearing this a few weeks ago, though don't know where it originated. Needed to be cleared up, as it could put off sponsors and potential investors. 

Also, like to think the club has learnt to keep within its means, especially after nearly disappearing a few years back.

Up the Vikings!

[Spidey]

It originated in this article 

https://rugbyleaguelongreads.substack.com/p/widnes-gm-tim-holmes-departs

[M j M]

34 minutes ago, Spidey said:

It originated in this article 

https://rugbyleaguelongreads.substack.com/p/widnes-gm-tim-holmes-departs

Is anyone shocked at who the 'journalist' behind this is. 

[Eddie]

If I had a few millions to throw at a RL club it would be Widnes, I still think they have the most potential (if not the means) of all non SL clubs to be a SL club. 

[Spidey]

24 minutes ago, Eddie said:

If I had a few millions to throw at a RL club it would be Widnes, I still think they have the most potential (if not the means) of all non SL clubs to be a SL club. 

I’m sure a screenshot of this will count as a contract when you win the euro millions

On a serious note note. I’m still surprised by the number of Widnes born pivots who play  in SL. Not all down to Widnes Vikings, but there’s definitely something worth investing in

[Eddie]

10 minutes ago, Spidey said:

I’m sure a screenshot of this will count as a contract when you win the euro millions

On a serious note note. I’m still surprised by the number of Widnes born pivots who play  in SL. Not all down to Widnes Vikings, but there’s definitely something worth investing in

Yes absolutely, and it’s a town that knows it has a rugby league club despite years in the doledrums and proximity to massive football clubs. 

[Widiot]

The problem is though, that clubs like ours are being frozen out. 
 

once the profesional club in the town is gone, in a few years time, as will be the case for most Championship clubs, then the interest from local youngsters will also die off. 
 

in turn, this will remove a lot of players from the profesional game. 
 

[Toby Chopra]

How are you being frozen out? Widnes were in SL from 2012-2018 and couldn't stay up. Since then they've not won the championship or made a case for promotion. 

[american]

11 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Since then they've not won the championship or made a case for promotion. 

who knows if they'd even be granted promotion if they made a case for it or won the championship

[Eddie]

5 hours ago, Toby Chopra said:

How are you being frozen out? Widnes were in SL from 2012-2018 and couldn't stay up. Since then they've not won the championship or made a case for promotion. 

They did apply for promotion last season iirc. 

[Spidey]

9 hours ago, Toby Chopra said:

How are you being frozen out? Widnes were in SL from 2012-2018 and couldn't stay up. Since then they've not won the championship or made a case for promotion. 

We were promoted through licencing, steadily built the club up but didn't deal with going back to P&R very well

Now we've been trying to align to "IMG" ratings, however it seems London have the next place regardless of that process

So yes the rest of the clubs are being frozen out at the moment.  Who knows what's going to happen after London go up

[JonM]

10 hours ago, Widiot said:

once the profesional club in the town is gone, in a few years time, as will be the case for most Championship clubs, then the interest from local youngsters will also die off. 

in turn, this will remove a lot of players from the profesional game. 

Remains to be seen I guess. Oldham seemed to carry on producing lots of top level players in spite of barely having a pro club for a long period. Certainly HFH seem to put plenty of stuff on social media in recent years about their players being in the NRL, playing for Saints, Wigan etc. 

There has been speculation that John Davidson is so desperate for clicks that he'll simply make stuff up, and that the RFL don't bother to return calls or emails from him any more, but I'm certain that's not true.

[headtackle]

How many amateur clubs are there in Widnes these days ? 

Can't think of that many and think with the time that has elapsed decent amateur players will head to nearby St Helens and Warrington to the likes of Thatto Heath, Cloakface and Crossfields all within very short distance.

At the academy level even if Widnes were to get into SL the lure of Saints and Warrington will always be there

In saying that I always liked going to Widnes. The chicken run fence the players ran out through at Naughton Park and some great players in the Doug Laughton era. They have been unlucky over the years that SL has developed and think that ship has sailed now 

Just highlights that we need a decent comp outside of SL to keep these clubs going  and thriving

[headtackle]

18 hours ago, Eddie said:

If I had a few millions to throw at a RL club it would be Widnes, I still think they have the most potential (if not the means) of all non SL clubs to be a SL club. 

Euro Millions jackpot is £111 million tonight so you could be on

 

[JonM]

42 minutes ago, headtackle said:

How many amateur clubs are there in Widnes these days ? 

Can't think of that many and think with the time that has elapsed decent amateur players will head to nearby St Helens and Warrington to the likes of Thatto Heath, Cloakface and Crossfields all within very short distance.

Halton Farnworth Hornets could easily name a full squad from players in the current pro game. There's also West Bank and Widnes Moorfield Tigers. Quite a lot of former Widnes academy players in SL too.

[Maximus Decimus]

2 hours ago, headtackle said:

How many amateur clubs are there in Widnes these days ? 

Can't think of that many and think with the time that has elapsed decent amateur players will head to nearby St Helens and Warrington to the likes of Thatto Heath, Cloakface and Crossfields all within very short distance.

At the academy level even if Widnes were to get into SL the lure of Saints and Warrington will always be there

In saying that I always liked going to Widnes. The chicken run fence the players ran out through at Naughton Park and some great players in the Doug Laughton era. They have been unlucky over the years that SL has developed and think that ship has sailed now 

Just highlights that we need a decent comp outside of SL to keep these clubs going  and thriving

My lad plays at HFH, and it's kind of the opposite situation. Lots of lads go there who are actually fans of Wigan, Saints, Wire etc.

When you've got a decent setup like that, then it's less of an issue if the local side isn't doing well. Think of Union in large parts of the North. I teach on the Wirral and they have no professional club for miles yet you see a fair few kids playing rugby.

[Charlie]

There definitely still needs to be a route for Widnes, Donny, Salford and whoever else to get in to sl. What this is I’m not sure but a closed shop really is t the answer 

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

3 hours ago, headtackle said:

How many amateur clubs are there in Widnes these days ? 

Can't think of that many and think with the time that has elapsed decent amateur players will head to nearby St Helens and Warrington to the likes of Thatto Heath, Cloakface and Crossfields all within very short distance.

At the academy level even if Widnes were to get into SL the lure of Saints and Warrington will always be there

In saying that I always liked going to Widnes. The chicken run fence the players ran out through at Naughton Park and some great players in the Doug Laughton era. They have been unlucky over the years that SL has developed and think that ship has sailed now 

Just highlights that we need a decent comp outside of SL to keep these clubs going  and thriving

I think that a competitive Widnes in Superleague wouldn't have too much to fear from the "lure" of Saints or Warrington.  If Widnes could keep the best players in the town the big losers would be Saints. As for the development of Superleague leaving Widnes behind, the main difference between Widnes and many of its current incumbents is they don't have anybody pumping money in. 

[Snowys Backside]

Widnes need to be in SL.

Some great Amateur sides when I was a kid.

St Marries, Widnes Tigers and always a good scrap against Lunts Heath.

Great fans, and some huge attendances when Leigh faced them in the lower tier.

If York, Bradford and Toulouse can come up and do OK, then why cant Widnes ?

16 Team SL, top 8 and 30 fixtures will do for me !

[Click]

1 hour ago, Snowys Backside said:

Widnes need to be in SL.

Some great Amateur sides when I was a kid.

St Marries, Widnes Tigers and always a good scrap against Lunts Heath.

Great fans, and some huge attendances when Leigh faced them in the lower tier.

If York, Bradford and Toulouse can come up and do OK, then why cant Widnes ?

16 Team SL, top 8 and 30 fixtures will do for me !

They don't have a financial backer like those clubs, that's the big difference.

[Cheadle Leyther]

I think they could follow the Leigh Leopards model if only someone like Derek could be found. The attendance of over 7,000 against Wire last season shows that.

Loved the rivalry between our teams in the Championship!

[Spidey]

1 hour ago, Click said:

They don't have a financial backer like those clubs, that's the big difference.

Haven't you heard @Eddie is winning Euromillions soon

[JonM]

2 hours ago, Snowys Backside said:

Some great Amateur sides when I was a kid.

St Marries, Widnes Tigers and always a good scrap against Lunts Heath.

All still with us, too. St. Maries are open age only, Widnes Tigers merged and are now Widnes Moorfield Tigers, Lunts Heath Lions merged with Halton Hornets to become Halton Farnworth Hornets.

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

All still with us, too. St. Maries are open age only, Widnes Tigers merged and are now Widnes Moorfield Tigers, Lunts Heath Lions merged with Halton Hornets to become Halton Farnworth Hornets.

Thought Farnworth Ring O Bells were also involved in HFH merger.