Re: Focus on Youth : Tue Nov 05, 2013 8:25 pm  

Bulls4Champs wrote:

Have we announced a total number of Season ticket sales? Maybe they should do another early bird to cover the uncertainty of the weeks surrounding the ratification if the new ownership?

I understand what you are getting at but we don't ant to drop into the same position as before. There is no point in getting season ticket numbers if it doesn;t pay the mortgage. Early bird was extra cherap for people showing faith in the team and backing them when the future was uncertain. If you weren't willing to take that gamble then you an buy a season ticket at the regular price.

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:09 am  

A timely reminder in the TnA that we have a couple of England Academy players one of whom got MoM against Wales. I hope Mellor does hit double figures in games this season, for all the right reasons, with the other younger players getting time too

[Bulliac]

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:32 am  

rugbyreddog wrote:

I understand what you are getting at but we don't ant to drop into the same position as before. There is no point in getting season ticket numbers if it doesn;t pay the mortgage. Early bird was extra cherap for people showing faith in the team and backing them when the future was uncertain. If you weren't willing to take that gamble then you an buy a season ticket at the regular price.

To be [slightly] more accurate, 'Early Bird' is a regular discount done every year to encourage early payment in an otherwise 'dead' period in terms of takings, and it's also done, I think, by the majority, if not all, clubs, so to describe it as something to reward people for, "Keeping faith" in an uncertain future, suggests an intention which isn't really there.

It usually ends just before the 'seat' deadline, [ie the date you have to renew if you want to be sure of keeping your old seat] though, as EB lasts for around six or more weeks I'd expect the majority to be sold at this price rather than the full price and for the club to budget accordingly. To be frank, I wouldn't think it would be a big deal to extend slightly, though as I said previously, there is a lot to be said for consistency. It would actually be interesting to know the percentages on EB and full price sales.

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:45 pm  

thepimp007 wrote:

I know its impossible to keep them all but a team of

1. Reardon (I know hes not doing much now)
2. Naughton
3. Wardle
4. Atkins
5. Ben Hellewell
6. Bridge
7.
8. George B
9. Mark Flanagan (played there for wests and saints, struggling for a 9 tho)
10. Tom B
11. Bateman
12. Ferres
13. Sam B

With the exception of a scrum half I think this proves even throughout the noble years of not bringing youngsters through we have had the makings of a grand team! I know people say wigan could say many of their juniors are playing everywhere but the difference being they couldnt get a game due to other wigan juniors who were better. I think it proves we should be aiming to bring the young lads through when we can, and to be fair as we have been.

Compared to previous "if only sides" though I think that's weaker from Bradford - especially compared to the pryce era. As for the assertion it would be grand final challenging - it would be behind Saints, Leeds and Wigan (in a player movement free world) - also would face challenges from the likes of cas who seem to have the capability to produce plenty of youngsters

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:22 pm  

Can we get a team of what could have been, still playing?

Sykes
Atkins
Bridge
Wardle
Crookes
L Pryce

Peacock
Carlisle
G Burgess
Ferres
Whitehead
S Burgess

T Burgess
Kopczak
Bateman
Patrick

Fill in the blanks anybody, or thing of any better?

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:56 pm  

Keale Carlisle at hooker?

Re: Focus on Youth : Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:20 pm  

Good call.

Re: Focus on Youth : Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:14 am  

Southernwood at 7? He played 2 games for us there.

[Bulliac]

Re: Focus on Youth : Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:05 am  

Yeah, he did. But he wasn't so much 'tapped up' as just not retained, wasn't he?

Re: Focus on Youth : Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:36 am  

Same applies to Bridge, Atkins, Patrick and Ferres :/