And the direct benifit to the Championship clubs of this exposure ?

Given the obvious difference in climate , yes Leigh used to have a full nights ' entertainment ' after matches , however we play on Sundays meaning things have to stop at a reasonable time , because of the LSV we dont any longer and we dont have a couple of hundred away fans on a boozy weekend away , do we ?

So yes we did and other clubs still do

Excellent news , I hope it continues

well,first of all more national (and local) exposure might just provoke the good people of Leigh to realise they have first-class entertainment on their doorsteps, that's assuming terrestrial tv has reached that neck of the woods....Leigh is a biggish place so why is the local populus so reticent about supporting their team ? Leigh,along with all the other dozens of teams have to take responsability for their own situation,don't you think ?

I can't see what differerence playing on a sunday makes to having a family entertainment programme post-match ! Unless of course you have to be at the Evening Service at half-six...The climate isn't actually that relevant - only half the TO post-match entertainment is outside during the season - for example, last years' TO v Leigh game post match 'do' was indoors if you recall ! (with the local brass band) . All the Villeneuve post-match entertainments are indoors cos' the LER operates during the winter months and it gets blinkin' cold down Toulouse way from november to march ! but that doesn't stop the supporters attending week in week out.

Lots of blame has to be put at the doors of the clubs themselves for not promoting the game in a professional & commercial manner - the survival of clubs in C/C1 is largely in their own hands - more reponsable management and maybe a lowering of expectations (living beyond their means etc).

I totally agree with a few of the things you say, the promotion of our club is next to nothing and any ideas the fans have arn't ever listened to. We have pretty much no opposition from other sports in our town, we should be averaging double what we do now.

At the same time, a lot of supporters feel like there's nothing to play for in our league with no P & R, which affects attendances. I'd like to see what kind of crowds we would get if we had a half decent team given a shot at Super League, with a decent coach and stadium now. Seen as we were badly prepared and got battered in 2005 and still didn't have the worst crowds.

yes,it's always been a mystery to me why so few fans turn out for their local teams,especially in the so called rl heartlands !
I honestly believe P & R IS a big issue for the lower leagues - it's something to aim for not only for the club but also of course for the fans - imagine what would happen if the same criterium were applied to the Barclays Premiership ! the big target for the lower divisions is the dream of one day reaching the Premiership - the dream came true for Blackpool last season - it's the ultmate goal.
As a neutral,the change at Leigh has been staggering compared to 2009 for example - Basil & Robbie have worked wonders with a seemingly whole new approach (more professionalism etc) to the game.Yes,you are right P & R would go a long way to increasing gates and giving us,the punters something to aim for.
I have stated before on other forums,why not have two SL leagues each of 12 teams with the top six competing for the play-offs and the winner of each league meeting in the Grand Final - this would include P & R for each league of one or two new clubs from a lower league : ie have seven of the present SL plus five Championship teams in each of the two SL leagues.

Yes the clubs have to share some of the blame , unfortunatly most if not all are just trying to survive , leaving little if any money for Marketing themselves , that is why I have suggested it is arranged and financed by the RFL on their behalf , the bottom line is that they have removed the most marketable thing the lower tier clubs had ' promotion ' and the RFL seem either incapable or uninterested in finding something to replace it

quote from Starbug
Do you seriously think the people of Leigh dont know they have a RL team ?

answer other SL clubs all within 30 minutes drive

answer : yes,that's stating the bl*****g obvious - it has always been tough for all RL teams to compete in the rl heartlands and it always will be
If you believe your club has done the utmost to increase interest in your catchment area then,my friend,your club is DOOMED
Leigh,along with all the others will just have to scale down,manage their affairs better and lower their ambitions just to survive.
By the way,what excuse can you give for the lack of support for the likes of Whitehaven or Workington which are even further north of Watford ? and certainly a fair drive from the 'first class' sporting venues you describe ! Maybe they all head for the hotbed of footie that is Carlisle Utd ?

quite agree


regarding LER crowds - I can't say offhand but I will find out - it's not a cop out,I just don't know

off the top of my head I would estimate a crowd of about 800 - 1000 for the Villeneuve games

Very poor then , they need to market themselves better or lower their expectations

probably,but their expectations aren't that great to begin with - the LER maybe with the exception of FCL & UTC are parochial clubs and always will be - they are not sleeping giants such as Widnes etc - they know their place and cut their cloth accordingly - the LER is a totally different concept just as france is a totally different culture to that of the UK - don't try to make comparisons.
Union dominates down south and it always will,end of.

y

So they play in the highest league in the country ?

Football dominates in the northwest of England and always will , end of

That's what the southerners tried on with us in 1895 , that's why RL was born , dont expect us to bend over and take it

it's a pity it now appears to be dying...........

It's been "dying" since before i was born. Hell, it's a long and slow death.