There was a good number of people attended last night, including sponsors, directors and the likes. Something like 120 tickets sold for the night. No real shocks to report other than Widders has sustained a neck injury during training. It is still being looked and hence only Widders and Isa weren't present to receive their shirts.

Maybe I should add that Isa is expected to arrive Friday and TM is giving him a run out over the weekend. He is apparenly coming to us in good shape and has been in training with the Melbourne Storm during the off season.

Despite the presence of some key sponsors and prospective sponsors, the usual suspects found it a suitable time to be stood at the bar drinking pints of lager. Completely un-professional in my opinion, but hey ho...no suprise from the usual 'untouchable' culprit.

The buy a brick scheme is apparently going well, however no actual sales numbers were given. The target is 1000.

The club will be making a formal announcement soon about shirt number 18 'Cas fan'.

RW as ever mentioned that our Superleague franchise bidding is shaping up nicely, and he expects that we will have a very strong 'bid'. Progress with the ground is awaiting the outcome of the detailed planning permission, apparently a 13 week process.

No mention of Ryan Brierley!

Most of the guys looking in good shape, and a seemingly good atmosphere between the players.


Just for those who may be interested.

It's pre-season, Monday night, a presentation. Why is it so unprofessional to drink? If it was in season and a few days before the game then maybe but come on. Give it a rest.

Are they not allowed to have a drink before the season has even started? I follow a load of the players on twitter, and they all seem to working their s off.

It's not always what you are doing.......but what you are seen to be doing!!

Standing at the bar supping pints in front of club directors, sponsors, media and prospective sponsors does not give a good impression of the professional comittment of the club. It's frowned upon enough in business, let alone sport!!.....End of.

Not just my opinion, it was seen and commented upon by numerous people last night. Words to the effect of 'I see somethings haven't changed, player X is adopting his normal pre-season training regime.'

The game is now as much a business as it is a sport and a lot of effort is being put in by the club to attract business to invest in the club during this difficult business economic climate.

There is a time and a place for everything, this was neither the time......nor the place. He could quite easily have gone home and had a good few beers, as many of the players may have chosen to do. But no not this individual !!

Aaaah, the politically correct society in which we all live!

Sorry, but I get so sick of this "image is everything" nonsense. If having a beer (or a few) isn't acceptable in public, then it's simply not acceptable to go home and have a few. Anything else smacks of blatant hypocrisy.

24 players present last night. 22 managed to stay off the ale, why couldn't the other 2?

As I mention in my above post, I've nothing against them having a beer and many of them may well have done when they got home, they might be winding down with a pint as we speak.....nowt wrong with that.

However, when the club is pulling out all stops to get investment into the club I don't think it reflects well on the club for prospective sponsors to see players stood at the bar supping pints.

So someone who is drinking a pint at a celebratory night is seen as bad on the club? Two players?

And I still say that it's hypocrisy to accept that the players can drink in one place but not another. Are we going to have a ban on booze in the ground for no reason other than potential sponsors wouldn't like the idea of supporting a club that has fans who like a pint on a matchday?

I follow a number of 1st teamers on Twitter And I agree Tht it seems they r really putting it in during training n sum even going to the gym in their own time. Which Two wer Players they ??

Any fans who were saying it last night need to get a grip!!!! It's pre-season for god sake. If it was happening in the season then fair enough. P1sses me right off that.

Sorry but i must agree,professionalism should be seen from players.

So they don't need to BE professional, just LOOK professional? They can get tanked up behind closed doors, but not in public.

Why, exactly?

Absolutely 100% agree with this thread, to a point. 1 or 2 beers is socially acceptable, and I would expect the players to relax and make themselves available and accessible. Though several is not..... When I attend work functions with customers, clients and senior members of my business, then I moderate by behaviour even though in the privacy of my own world, I like a beer as much as the next man. Others do not.
I guess it comes down to your personal values of how you intend to present yourself, be perceived.

Hypocrisy, maybe a little: If you recall the picture of Peter Crouch in the Sun this summer with a fag is a good parallel. It was barely mentioned, because he was away from anything to do with his club, on holiday and in his break. I would wager if he was on an event for Spurs and was having a fag, it'd have been seen in a very different way.

I think this is a personal viewpoint. The "aren't they allowed to have a beer......." arguments dont hold up, the answer is yes - time and place.... that is in my view.

I absolutely agree about time and place in that if it affects your ability to do your job properly, you shouldn't be drinking and you should be taken to task by the management about it. And this should apply no matter what job you're in. However, this was a pre-season celebration event. If the guys only had one or two and were having a social chat at the bar, I still can't see that as a problem, no matter who's present. There are no reported incidents of them actually being drunk or indulging in anti-social behaviour on the night.

Why can't each event be treated on its own merit?

i think you need to take the night in it's context. to me the night symbolised the following;
- this is the squad for the season
- the season if full of hope and big expectation
- in the presence of the management, BOD and sponsors the squad are presented their shirts and it is a statement of intent by the club that we mean business this season.
- to the fans and the sponsors, this is the squad that will deliver success
- we have completed a grueling pre season and we are no ready for the season

so for those reasons i think it is fair to say players drinking beers at the bar can be seen as a little un professional. personally i dont care but i can easily see to some that it can be seen as pentulent!

no one is saying the players are out of order i think it was probably a little niaivaty on their part and it would not have hurt to keep off the drink given the night was about signaling it's intent for the upcoming season. impressions are everything in life and unfortunately you only get one chance at a first impression!!