They were from Dublin & hard-core RU fans visiting their mother who lives locally. But to give them credit where it's due they did delay their visit so they could come to the Kent game and even with their ancient Hull connections enjoyed it immensely. I doubt even they'd travel that far again to watch us beat Widnes although they would probably be up for another Hull FC game in the future!

I have always thought an OTR game would go down well in Dublin....I am sure I recall the Bulls having an Irish Charity connection a few years back...their green away strip.
There's no pre-conceptions about Union/League in Dublin.....I think you'd sell out the RDS in a heartbeat.

Bradford actually played a pre season friendly over in Dublin in the year of the green away kit. I went. It was played at a small RU club and attracted a crowd of a hundred or so. I have no idea what, if any marketing there was ahead of the game. To be honest it was a very half hearted pre-season run out, played in quarters, an incredible number of substitutions. Matt Cook was in the Bradford team that day.

I ended up next to a couple of football fans who watch RL on Sky but had never seen it live until today. They loved it but said they won't ever be regulars due to the journey in from the part of Kent they live in.

It's these types of fans that the club needs to canvas for their opinions. Admitedly, they won't be interested in travelling too far from Kent to catch games, but it's their feedback that is vital to getting the message right.

It will be interesting to see how many watch the Widnes game at the Stoop, good level of support from the locals in Gillingham, Ian Ramsdale is tweeting that more than 2000 were a result of local efforts. He is probably correct.

Easily 2,000 locals......if not more. Good news for ther Dragons and their future

I came down from Keighley today and after the game when walking back Gillingham Station, one of the London fans was having a right moan, saying, London will never get a ground down here, and if they want to build ground here they can F*** off. I walked off because it felt like he directing it at me.

I thought it was a good turn out and think its a great idea for the Broncos to spread their home games to other area's of the south east.

I thought the locals got behind London, BTW I was in with the Hull fans.

Sorry state of affairs London has a major problem.

I suspect the "angry" fan was maybe someone who has followed the game maybe as far back as 1997 when the club first put down roots in West London and who feels slightly aggrieved that rather than spend money on marketing in West London, the club are instead spending money on promoting games 50 miles away....
It too believe the turn out was excellent and the promotional teams involved deserve a pat on the back. The only problem is that of the 2,000+ locals from Kent who turned up to support their local clubs and accompany the Kids as part of the "stampede" event organised by the Medway Dragons, maybe 20 will be in attendance at the Stoop on June 9th for the wooden spoon decider against Widnes.

OTR games are a great concept when utilised to promte the game in the area/region...alas, these 2 games smack of a move (another one) to try and build a fan base..........

Orient proved nothing......Gillingham even less.

6 Home games left in 2012......3 potentially close games in Widnes, Salford and HKA.........but also 3 hammerings in Wigan, Wire and leeds...........Let's see what the club does to attact fans to these games.

Maybe more than 20 but yes what are london doing to promote the Widnes game?

FWIW?
If I was the marketing manager at the club (rumour has it the club no longer have one......), I would immediately be booking 3 or 4 coaches from Gillingham to The Stoop on June 9th.
£25 return including a match ticket and a programme........200-300 fans......if it's well received, repeat it.

TOP TIP 1
Run the coach at COST.........this is not a profit making excercise, but a PROMOTIONAL ONE.
TOP TIP 2
Pay the Medway Dragons and local volunteers 15% commission on every ticket they sell.....£1,000 + in funds for the local RL scene, 300 extra fans at a Broncos game (7% of the gate).......


....Just a thought.....strike whilst the irons hot and all that!!

So... We have (I think) the biggest gate of the season, although not really 'at home', and their still are complaints. Atmosphere wasn't great for the stand I was in till the last few stages, damn, stop complaining.