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Quote: KensalGreenRL "
Quote: KensalGreenRL "Been around the London area for about the past three years and watched Quins in that time, getting a season ticket both this year and last (though I was initally not going to renew this year after the pain of last season- a factor that I think may have had an impact on today's crowd).

As an ex-pat Northerner, I love Rugby League and I love having a team I can watch (nearly) on my door step. I've met other ex-pat northerners and curious RU fans (who suprisingly don't all wear top hats and quaff Champagne- and often either have a high level of respect for League or simply apathy/disinterest). I don't know why more people turn up- it's an endless debate that has no easy answer. The only tangible way crowds would increase was if the club had a major backer (like they did with Virgin) who could pay for a top flight team and proper marketing. '"

I can't imagine any sponsor however big and ready to 'buy' a team capable of competing seriously in the top four dramatically changing the size of the crowds in London - can't we just face it,London dosen't want top class RL ? - not at the moment anyway,so does it deserve to have it above the likes of Fev & Fax or the other heartland teams ?
Maybe what's needed is a period of consolidation in the Championship for the Quins which will allow the apparent development of the game in the southern counties to take shape and re apply for SL status when the game has reached greater levels of interest in the London area ?

Quote: KensalGreenRL "With the rise and rise of Union since it went professional, and the media presence of both their National game and the Guiness Premiership, I don't think that's going to happen. If the RFL put money into marketing the club to the South you might see results- but then again, I'm sure that won't make them very popular with the type of people who post on here.
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By all accounts the RFL is making great efforts to develop the game down south,hence the vast increase in RL participation at junior level at least.This will take time to bear fruit however,so maybe a few years spent developing a strong Championship side along with the Skolars is the answer ?

Quote: KensalGreenRL "To all those complaining- the current chairman will only keep us afloat for the next three/four years (from the current lot of liscences to the next one), so its ultimately do or die for the club over the next three years. We actually have a core home fanbase of around 1500-2000, which, let's face it, isn't that much lower than a team like Salford (who will obviously attract more away fans). If the team fail to achieve anything and still attract crowds around the 3000 av. level, it's doubtful that we would find new backers and the club would probably fold to the delight of the flatcappers. The sport would go back to being an M62 curiousity that once attempted to be viewed as a national game, but gave up the ghost.'"

As a non-flatcapper (tractor boy from down sarf !) it wouldn't delight me to see any club go to the wall whether they be north,south or wherever.What's important is the game as a whole.Sky tv will still have as many southern based viewers if Quins are in SL or not.They just want to present decent games to their customers.
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