Crowds would rise dramatically. You're crazy if you think the Wire have any effect on Widnes' attendances. Last time we were in SL when the average attendance was lower than it is now we always averaged over 6k and it would have been 7k had we not been relegated with a few games left. When we were last in the National Leagues our attendances were almost identical to what they are now.

With a decent side we would average 8k.

And I don't think Crusaders being down the road is making any difference to Widnes' crowds. Championship crowds are down slightly anyway due to the fact we've got not alot to play for!

Typical flatcapper, you low life non SL clubs have the possibility of 'getting promoted in a few years if the big boys like you' to play for. Just be glad of the few crumbs you get thrown and stop whinging, peasants.

hi new to the forum! Thought the crowd at Sheffield was good on sunday. I know they usually get around 800-900 so to get nearly 3000 was a great achievement for them.

Just wondering how many boxes they would tick in terms of a SL licence?
their stadium, location etc is good but im just wondering in terms of youth development etc? I think it would be good for SL, not now but perhaps in 4-5 years time when the eagles have had time to become more established.

And before anyone has a go for being biased towards Sheffield i'm from St Helens and a saint through and through just live in Sheff for uni.

I'm amazed no one has mentioned York?

York has a lovely old Church.

3000 crowds in the championship = at least 6000 in SL.

crowds of 3000 in the championship indicate a club which is good enough for SL

widnes clearly are that

potentially fax and leigh as well

the RFL would like to see as many clubs as possible ready to go into SL to put more pressure on SL sides.

next time maybe 2 sl clubs will go out, instead of one ive been assuming

York, Barrow, South Wales Gateshead and Sheffield. The teams with the Biggest potential outside SL.

I was not infering that Widnes fans would go and watch Wire what I meant was that the floating fans in and around the area would lean towards those two before Widnes. As for 8k well we can only wait and see! Good luck anyway hopefully not at our expense.

widnes in SL for 3 years 10,000.

easy as.

Get Leigh in SL!

Yep, Wrexham is probably a much more difficult journey than its distance suggests, not least with the farce that is Runcorn Bridge!

Widnes lose some local support to St Helens, however.

widnes average crowds in super league for their last 4 years

2002 - 6,510
2003 - 6,511
2004 - 6,153
2005 - 6,794

so potentially they would average that again but with the recent success of warrington and the possible re-emergence of wigan how many floating fans will be lost to widnes from the halton/runcorn area?
not forgetting that north wales was usually a stronghold for widnes too, if the crusaders take off how will that affect widnes' ambitions? they need ( and should) to get a license in the next round if we are brutally honest