: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:31 pm  

SRC wrote:

It's true that calling us a 'developing' club is daft, but at present that is the only classification the RFL have and that is what we have to apply to be. The RFL are considering a new classification of club I believe. I think it'll be more to do with proximity to your nearest SL club. The club originally asked for this status in 2007/08 I think, so it's old news to us.

I don't hold much hope of getting a 'yes' from the RFL as we get squat all out of them. No harm in asking the question especially when Quins RL have been in SL (in one guise or another) for 14 years and are still classed as a 'developing' club.

yer but you are in a RL stronghold are you not, how long you been going 130 years or something and how many amateur teams are there in Barrow?
If we are to believe all the hype you lot put on here you should be good enough for SL, so why do you want Development status???

You can't have it both ways!

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:09 am  

Leagues below SL should only be considered for British based players and homegrown talent in my opinion.

Even though I wish Barrow luck, they are yet again another club bankrolled by a very rich man who is recognised for dummy spitting should he not get his own way.

If he pulls his funding, Barrow are knackered, and if he thinks that loopholes (ie aussie players), are going to achieve his goal of SL, then he is in for a rude awakening.

Just like my team Leigh, Barrow isn't big enough to accomodate a SL club. They had a great side in the early 80's in RL top division and could only must 3000 tops.

If he wants SL, then invest in Widnes, as they are the only team in C1 with the infrastructure, support base and funding to boot, oh, and they have a Chairman with a bit on integrity!

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:17 am  

Snowy wrote:

Leagues below SL should only be considered for British based players and homegrown talent in my opinion.

Even though I wish Barrow luck, they are yet again another club bankrolled by a very rich man who is recognised for dummy spitting should he not get his own way.

If he pulls his funding, Barrow are knackered, and if he thinks that loopholes (ie aussie players), are going to achieve his goal of SL, then he is in for a rude awakening.

Just like my team Leigh, Barrow isn't big enough to accomodate a SL club. They had a great side in the early 80's in RL top division and could only must 3000 tops.

If he wants SL, then invest in Widnes, as they are the only team in C1 with the infrastructure, support base and funding to boot, oh, and they have a Chairman with a bit on integrity!

3,000 tops?
Cobblers.

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:44 am  

Fax4Life wrote:

yer but you are in a RL stronghold are you not, how long you been going 130 years or something and how many amateur teams are there in Barrow?
If we are to believe all the hype you lot put on here you should be good enough for SL, so why do you want Development status???

You can't have it both ways!

Is funny as in quest for SL they both boast about amature clubs in area yet also want extra's as a development club!

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:22 am  

If you read my post again, you'll see that the word 'development' is used only because the RFL don't have another category. They are looking to change the rules to take into account the travelling distance to the nearest SL club.

As for our support when we were last in the top flight, the whole sport has changed since then. Only Wigan and maybe Hull in their heyday could muster regular 10,000 crowds in the 80's. In fact, last week when sorting the loft, I stumbled across an old Stones Bitter Championship programme from the early 80's. Barrow were the 5th best supported team in the country and were getting bigger crowds than Bradford, Cas and quite a few other clubs.

We could easily support a SL club as we have a huge catchment area. Our sell-out crowd against Wigan in the CC and the following we took to Warrington for the GF backs this up. If we were getting the likes of Saints, Leeds, Wigan and even Cas, Huddersfield on a regular basis then our crowds would go through the roof.

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:13 am  

SRC wrote:

If you read my post again, you'll see that the word 'development' is used only because the RFL don't have another category. They are looking to change the rules to take into account the travelling distance to the nearest SL club.

As for our support when we were last in the top flight, the whole sport has changed since then. Only Wigan and maybe Hull in their heyday could muster regular 10,000 crowds in the 80's. In fact, last week when sorting the loft, I stumbled across an old Stones Bitter Championship programme from the early 80's. Barrow were the 5th best supported team in the country and were getting bigger crowds than Bradford, Cas and quite a few other clubs.

We could easily support a SL club as we have a huge catchment area. Our sell-out crowd against Wigan in the CC and the following we took to Warrington for the GF backs this up. If we were getting the likes of Saints, Leeds, Wigan and even Cas, Huddersfield on a regular basis then our crowds would go through the roof.

I agree that you do have a large catchment area (Cumbria) and I for one would rather see a superleague club established in Cumbria than another one in Wales or France. But the hurdle you would have to overcome is where to put one. If you put one in Barrow, would you attract fans from Workington / Whitehaven or visa versa?

I dont know if the solution would be to establish a club somewhere in cumbria but not in one of established rugby league towns, to attract fans from all of them?

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:50 pm  

What's happening with this here 'Super Stadium' that's been earmarked for Cumbria? 'Haven have already said they're not interested, would it be up Barrow's street?

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:21 pm  

The Dors wrote:

What's happening with this here 'Super Stadium' that's been earmarked for Cumbria? 'Haven have already said they're not interested, would it be up Barrow's street?

Some ideas have been floated.

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:03 pm  

marillion man wrote:

Some ideas have been floated.

Is that pun intentional?? You naughty boy!!

: Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:10 pm  

The Dors wrote:

What's happening with this here 'Super Stadium' that's been earmarked for Cumbria? 'Haven have already said they're not interested, would it be up Barrow's street?

Holker Street ?