These are not the the acid tests of whether we're a football or ruby town. It's far easier to make it as a professional RL player than a professional fooball player based purely on the numbers of kids competing for professional contracts - plus the football and RL youth->pro routes are completely different. Also, rating the "strength" of a club is entirely subjective, especially rating the strength between two completely different sports. In each case you're comparing apples with oranges.

Neither of these are a reasonable measure of the statement "we are a football/rugby town" - and considering the original statement was relating to the number of kids we have playing the sport in the town - by simply counting the number of junior clubs playing league fooball/rugby, we get an idea of the number of kids playing the sports - and ultimately the interest:

Football - Appleton AFC, Birchwood JFC, Bruche Athletic, Cromwell Athletic, Crosfields JFC, Culcheth JFC, Eagle JFC, Eagle Sports F.C., Lymm Piranhas, Matthiola, Monk JFC, Orford, Rylands FC, Sandymoor JFC, Sankey Strikers, Warrington Town FC, Whittle Hall, Winwick Athletic, Woolston Rovers

RL - Woolston, Crossfields, Latchford, Rylands, Culcheth, Bank Quay, Burtonwood, Lymm RL

(Happy to be called out on any of the above - I just did a cursory search online for junior football teams and junior RL teams)

The great publicity machine that gives football so much oxygen ensures that football is the number one game in the country no matter what game your strongest local professional club plays. Every tv news bulletin has football involved somewhere & the FA looks after its game & its sponsors by giving maximum exposure & virtually every school in Britain teaches football as sport helped by grants from the FA.

Yep, completely agree. I think the discussion went slightly off-piste with the football town vs rugby town point, which has detracted from what was actually a very good post from Alffi (I've just re-read it). Both sports are probably in a stronger position at jr level than they were a few years back, which is only a good thing.

As an aside - if we win the Bev Risman Trophy in the middle 8's, will that make it to your signature biscuit?

The Walker situation reminds me a little of Iestyn Harris. Wanted away from the club, probably had his head turned by money, press and agents, and has a ready made excuse to want out.

Leeds didn't look the gift horse in the mouth, and neither should we. Whether we like the way a move comes about or not, he is a talented boy and has potential to be one of the best in the country. Get him signed.

How many schools in Warrington play rugby league?

I heard we had agreed already. But after Barba turning after agreeing, I'll keep the cards to my chest.

I can't believe he doesn't think he couldn't keep Ash Golding from the FB position, he must be one of the most over rated players in Superleague

Even the Leeds fans don't rate him 16 games played in Superleague this season & zero tries

To sign a 5 year deal over all he must have some agent

He'd be a great signing for us, if we can't sign a quality half back I'd rather us sign a quality fullback and use ratchford in the halves with Patton. I think he will get some good game time for us anyway, feel a bit sorry for Jack Johnson who has been pretty good from what I have seen and perhaps deserved a run. We need a coach who plays the best players not his favourites like Smith seems to.

We seem to have a great system at Warrington. A so called top class academy system that the "top" management seem to have no faith in whatsoever & farm the products of the junior ranks out at the first opportunity only to replace them with similarly developed youngsters, on contracts ,who may or may not turn out to be any good.

We are in the same situation with Brad Dwyer, a real talent, but one whose game is way down this year as he's clearly not happy with management nor the terms of a deal to extend his contract. Probably best for all that he is leaving, but we'll see a much better player from now on at Leeds, unfortunately.

I think it was we that created the platform for Harris wanting out...

Following heavy investment just a couple of years earlier, Wires backing just dried up. Greenalls sold out and with it his ghost board membership. Higham and his board had spent and lost enough...although modest investment, they didn't get much of their money back.

Wire wouldn't offer Bateman a modest contract increase so was let go, Jiffy left stating he was disillusioned with lack of investment following a season where we finished 3rd on only points difference....it was the signs that Wire was in debt.
Wire needed Harris and Sculthorpe out more than they, and, Bateman and Davis, wanted out. Their sale along with council money buying Wilderspool, bought us survival and the most desperate time of rugby I'd witnessed in P&B. Thank god for DVD who was matey with Alfie, and the pair of them didn't particularly need the money.

So much happens at a club that we are not privy to. Regarding not developing our own players (obviously depends on what age we are talking about) but look at Julien, Philbin, the King brothers, Dec P (who I actually believe is growing into his role very nicely thank you).
The Dwyer situation is interesting. He clearly hasn't played at the same level this year, but there was a lot of "talk" at the end of last season that he was "demanding" a better contract which seems to mirror the "talk" coming out of Leeds about Walker.

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Mike Cooper has done ok, what with his England caps and everything.