As ever, the regular round up of what is going on...www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... 09563.html Not on there but soon to go up: Who won the schools girls tag tournament on Monday Bury Broncos Half Term Camp for school children

As ever, the regular round up of what is going on...www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... 09563.html Not on there but soon to go up: Who won the schools girls tag tournament on Monday Bury Broncos Half Term Camp for school children

I have been following your Pitchero updates with interest and acknowledge that junior rugby interest has been very positive with you now entering them into a league this year.

Junior rugby league is ultimately the way forward as a club, but as I intend to watch your games this year I am interested to know what your open age developments have been. I have read that a new coach/coaches have been appointed for the season and that player interest has increased, would these be players from Bury who have/are currently playing at other clubs or are these more novices to the game?- I know its hard to strike a balance but I am hoping that as in previous seasons it’s a bit of both as the league looks competitive and I hope to see you raise the profile of rugby league in Bury by being more competitive on the field. I know it’s not a priority and will be a while off but will your Pitchero site for players/coaches etc. be updated and cleansed like the rest of the site has been before the season with up to date pictures of the squad and players. The reason I ask is that as a spectator I like to be able to recognise a player etc. plus its an easier way of noticing new players

Hopefully the site will be updated before the season starts...Mike? Ryan?

We appointed a new head coach and fitness coach a few weeks ago and both have come in and done a great job. I'd been coaching for the last 18 months or so and while the content of the sessions isn't greatly different, the fact that we now have outsiders spurring the lads on means levels of commitment and intensity are that much higher. I'd been a player and 'one of the lads' before becoming coach and it became impossible to get those levels of intensity and discipline out of some lads so I've moved sideways to Team Manager and assisting the new coaches (and playing if selected!). Good developments all round and hopefully that will translate into discipline on the pitch!

On the player front - we've had several news lads coming down, with several more to come back from injury or winter clubs. Training has been very well attended. The new lads are probably an even mix of local novices and experienced lads from the surrounding area - a good mix. The standard overall is definitely on the up and those who've not really pushed their own development will soon find they need to improve to compete.

We'll be arranging a trial game and friendlies so be sure to introduce yourself! (but be careful, Mike will have you doing first aid or something!)

Thank you Cronus-
Coaching and playing on their own is a hard task but together simultaneously is something I would never contemplate. Unfortunately its hard to get coaches on board at amateur levels especially further down the leagues you go. But, you have two coaches both external who I assume have no attachment to the squad so you will reap the rewards as a club. Club Manager is still a task which is often overlooked but at Bury you seem to have your committee/ back room staff established which is just as important as the players, neither can work individually unless you want to be a poor pub team.
The playing standard as you say will improve as you have external input and the intensity will do too. Intensity will improve with new players joining and those joining from winter clubs.
All in all sounds good. MMP has asked me before if I’d like to help but I am a spectator who has an interest in rugby league on my door step, no interest anymore in volunteering due to personal reasons and demands. Couple of years ago maybe.
Good luck Cronus and hope to see you and the team being competitive

I am hoping to make it to training tomorrow, I will be a new member if all goes well.

The more the merrier

How long does training last?

At the moment an hour only as we've been paying for Bury Athletics Track due to their excellent floodlights (when they turn them all on) and facilities, but it ain't cheap! To be fair they've not complained when we've gone over by 10-20 minutes.

We'll be moving to our home ground at Philips High School in Whitefield in a week or 2, we'll probably go for 90 mins, plus a game afterwards if the lads want one.

You interested in playing?

Yea I am interested, gonna be buying boots and a gum shield later today. I don't drive though, hope that aint a problem. I will be coming from Tottington.

Shouldn't be a problem, there's a couple of lads live up that way, can probably sort lifts.

Good stuff, hopefully see you at training

Just a quick message to wish you luck this weekend and throughout the forthcoming season. I hope to be down this weekend but possibly may not be but having read reports etc about your new structures I think the future is positive for Bury RL in becoming a competitive team.

I am looking forward to seeing your new style of play and how the new recruits influence your squad. I am making the assumption that these new players will be the better rugby union players giving rugby league a go in the union off season and that they have no prior experience of playing rugby league.

Good luck.

Some of the new players are mainly from clubs who are only doing winter seasons there are also a few returnees from a few years ago

a few of them are injured or have work commitments this weekend, so there should be plenty of players from last season playing. really looking forward to the game and the season itself.

Was a good game and a great effort from all the lads, excellent fightback to earn the draw.