I would say Fev are in pole position at the moment. They've been making the right noises for quite some time now, their crowds are steadily increasing and they've been the most consistent side at this level for 3 years. I think if they'd turned that dominance into more than just the one GF trophy they'd be a shoe-in by now.

Still, reading this thread, I wonder if there is something in the water in Leigh that makes us defeatist?

Go back to 2008 when the first set of licenses were announced. Allan Rowley spat his dummy out, rightly some would say (including myself at the time - particularly regarding the Crusaders farce), meanwhile, over in Widnes O'Connor sucked it up and knew that if they kept their head down and stuck at it they'd be a shoe-in by 2012. Leigh could've done the same and strenghtened our own position, instead we nearly get relegated.

Fast forward to today, we have Fev fans feeling rightly optimistic after their club has knuckled down and done so much hard work to get where it is. Whereas, we have fans on here saying [i'you won't get in'[/i etc. If Leigh had been as dominant as Fev have these last 3 years, with the improving crowds they're getting would we be as pessimistic or would we be shouting it from the rooftops?

I appreciate the position the club was in toward the back end of 2011 has probably set the club back a few years, despite the remarkable achievements on the field last season. However, since that day in 2008, is there one area where Leigh RL can say they've out performed Featherstone as a club? Despite the opportunity of getting one of the best RL grounds in the country with excellent training & office facilities, crowds are in sharp decline and academies & community departments have been chopped & changed and even culled. Contrast this back to Fev.

If Fev were given a license next season. I wonder what the reaction of Leigh RL would be. Would they get their act together knowing what is at stake or would they continue to shoot themselves in the foot. What would the reaction of the fans be? Would we believe that maybe there is a place in SL for us, or would we continue feeling sorry for ourselves because we didn't get in?

Seem to remember Leigh was also a pit village, Salford Lad, it was the first one the lads from Ackton Hall (former Fev pit) picketed during the strike. I believe Stan Wall, the former ref was the training officer. On the first day of the strike we were joined by lads' from Bold colliery which I believe was a St Helens pit.

You are right in what you say apart from Leigh was a pit Town not a Villiage.

I have already posted my post about Fev was tongue in cheek. My Dad was a miner at Bickershaw Collery
until he retired in 1983. He never worked during the strike.

What people are forgetting here is
One we need good crowds to run the team we have and keep the club going, we don't want a repeat of oct 2011
Two we need good crowds to be accepted into SL
Does the town of Leigh want a team, if so we have to find a way of getting them in to support it!

One) That's also my point.
Two) Forget all about gaining crowds for franchise purposes. Have the RFL indicated a Championship club will definitely win one?

And Three) See you at the match.