I must say having read this thread and also having a close insight to what has been going over the past few weeks regarding the so called 'double header' game i think the rugby club have been a bit pathetic throughout.

I will point out now that i am a football fan however i've been trying to look at this situation through a neutrals viewpoint.

I was not fussed that the rugby club had asked siddal if they wanted to play their cup game down the shay however i did wonder what gave tennants of the ground the right to start trying to arrange fixtures at the ground. I however found that the 12pm and 3pm kick off times were ridiculous and i believe the council made the correct decision to split the 2 games up and empty the stadium in between the games and they had good reasoning:

Firstly, The ground only has 3 changing rooms and you were requesting 4 teams to play there in a short space of time. With the players needing showers and possibly treatment after the siddal game the next 2 teams wouldn't of had enough time to prepare properly for the game. Plus, the changing rooms may need cleaning due to hygiene reasons.

Secondly, The ground only has 1 parking space for coaches and will not have enough spaces to cover all the players, directors, match officials so parking would have been an issue.

Thirdly, The Shay doesn't have the stewarding to be able to cover 2 games in quick succession. It's alright saying warrington can do 3 games however i could properbly bet that they swap stewards at some point during that day and the shay doesn't have that option.

Once the council moved the kick off times it was clear that 'the fax' didn't really care about getting a local league side playing their biggest game off the season at a quality stadium. They saw it as a money making scheme and that back fired on them when the kick off times got changed. The club would off done duo tickets and would have done a deal with siddal allowing them to get some of their gate money.

This became even more evident when the rugby club decided to cancel their pre match meals that the EMC do. I'm not sure whether this was done in protest but it wasn't thought through. The club make a profit on each meal before the game. So by cancelling the meals it means not only is the EMC making a loss but the club is too.

I also find it surprising that so many fans have been abusing the council in this thread. The council built the East Stand no matter how much some of your rugby lot think that you funded it. I also think the council have been very generous towards you. If you don't pay the rent on a house you get evicted and it should be the same in this case and i'm surprised the council haven't kicked you out yet.

I would like to see the fax get back into the super league and start drawing some big crowds down to The Shay. It will do some good for the town and maybe even increase the speed of the repairs needed at the shay. However, in order for the club to do this i do feel you may need to change your attitude towards the way you approach and deal with things.

Same as Bubba's post only written by an adult.

So basically, this is a "can't do" council, run by "can't do" people. We can't put 2 events of the same nature on one after the other due to lame "can't do" attitudes. Let"s hope these shores never get invaded as "common sense" will go out the window with panic - literally.

I suppose a "can do" council would now be building more changing rooms & car parks for this to go ahead?

I have issues with alot of what you say here as the facts you state simply aren't true.

Firstly Halifax RLFC DID NOT approach Siddal, Siddal actually approached the council asking to hold the game at Calderdales' community stadium, which we all know was refused firstly (until a change of heart).

Secondly the club had no choice but to cancel the meal element of the dining package partly due to reasons you mention yourself. The council stated the stadium need to be completely emptied between each game. The banqueting offerred would need to start at 2.30pm ish and with the first game kicking off at 11.30am the relaistic chance of getting everyone away from the ground in time for Halifax's dining events to start simply didn't allow enough time for EMC to turn things around between the 2 games. Food/refreshments has to be offerred to both teams after the game. Do the math yourself taking into account fans staying back for a drink, players getting changed, having a sit down meal and then the cleaners coming in cleaning up etc, etc.

As a football fan you obviously ALL know about the finances of Halifax RLFC!!! - The club rightly/wrongly withheld payments until an arrangement was made that brought parity between the charges both clubs were charged regardign rent. In my opinion it is only fair we pay the same etc, etc. In fact as Town constantly refer to us as "squatters" (which is lovely) we would in effect have "squatters rights" so to kick us out would be a costly and lengthy process. I am just glad sense prevailed and this is now all sorted. Although your comments intimate things are not so I would be very careful if I were you regarding how you phrase things!!!

There does appear to be a lot of tit for tat especially between the two clubs so I think both can take a proportion of the blame regarding the relationship. I for one am proud of my Town, and although not a Halifax Town fan always want my hometown team to do well. I simply don't understand the hatred towards each other. I find it extremely sad as together we would be a formidable force with a stronger voice in the community and especially the stadium.

Sadly I don't think I will live to see the day when both clubs get on.

Keighley fan here.

Not just a keighley fan, but a fan of the game in general whos been to watch fax on more than one occasion if Keighley havent been playing.

It baffles me why the council have decided to close the ground completly between the games for H&S. The opportunity was surely there to have a Halifax service area Magic-style sunday

Something like this would have been good.

Siddal v Widnes 12pm ko finish by 1.40

Halifax v Lock Lane at 3.

And in between, have Siddal U8's or 9's playing a short game v Lock Lane U8's or 9's.

I would have come sunday.

Might be `Sergeant` Geoff.

Had to laugh at the bit about paying rent and been evicted. If that was the case the stadium would be unoccupied.

During the war ......................................

Look, for a one off, what's the problem with cramming 80 men in a shower unit - chewin' the fat in between games? It never harmed me when i went to Eton.

A bit of inconvenience - that's all it is. There just isn't the will to go the extra mile to make this event gel together. It's a lazy attitude. Doesn't benefit Mr Byrnes so let's not bother eh? To hell with the public and what's best for the community.

Mr Brittas eat your heart out!!

Well my Sunday sorted. Down to the Shay for the Siddal game.Entrance fee only nowt else then walk up to Chevinedge (15 mins) for the celebrations where all will be welcome from Widnes!!!
Probably not bother or be in a fit state to go back for Fax game and stagger home for tea.
Great lets hope the Siddal club get a big bar turnover Sunday.

They have changed their minds again!

NEW SHAY CUP TIMES


Published on Tue Mar 01 14:18:34 GMT 2011

ARRANGEMENTS for Sunday’s Shay Challenge Cup matches involving Halifax and local amateurs Siddal have changed for a third time.

Siddal’s match with Widnes Vikings will kick off at 11.30 and Fax will now tackle Castleford Lock Lane at 3.0, two hours earlier than had been planned.

Originally the ground management team had ruled out both Calderdale sides playing at the Shay on the same day, meaning Siddal had been set to give up ground advantage for the tie.

Further details about Sunday’s arrangements will be announced shortly.

Council bow down to Fax again. I can see Bubba crying in his cup o tea.

Is it bowing down to fax or down to common sense? I havent had a reply to my e-mail to council yet (only the automated one saying it has been passed to the right department to deal with).

way the council operate it will go through about ten departments before someone looks to see which department it should go to then send via another ten departments before someone decides to answer.

Where they born thick?

Surely if going to move one game 2 hours closer should of been the 11:30am kick off as more chance of increase crowd numbers? Unbelievable!

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