I truely did used to be 'Wakey til i die'. I followed them home and away, most of what i wore was wakey branded, drank my coffee out of a wakey mug etc, etc. My first match was as a young kid with my dad taking me to watch Wally Lewis play at BV and i've been more or less a regular ever since and a season ticket holder for more years than I can remember. But in the last few seasons the interest has started to wain drastically and the actual reason for which is hard to pinpoint. Maybe its over 30 years of never even seeing us get to a major final let alone winning one, maybe it's all the false dawns and the subsiquent financial meltdowns, maybe its the many 'will we won't we?' sagas over a new stadium or the constant tinkering (and ruining in some cases) of the games rules and the structures. Or maybe it's just a combination of eveything. But maybe i've just grown up and want more out of life than pouring my money down the drain watching something that gives me 10% happiness and 90% disappointment. And the chances of that changing anytime soon are slim to none. But now it just doesn't 'float my boat' like it used to do. Wakefield will always be my club, you won't see me running off supporting anyone else, it's Trinity or nothing. But more and more these days my other interests in life seem so much more appealing and in a tough financial world give me much more satisfaction for my money. Due to the god-awful new structure voted in by the clubs (including ours) i'd already decided that this was to be my last as a season ticket holder and nothing i've experienced this year up to press has changed my mind, in fact it has served to cement my decision. I've tried to work up the enthusiasm believe me, even coming back to these boards after a long absence to try and rekindle some passion amongst like minded people. But ultimately it hasn't worked and from next season I'll pick and choose the games I attend if they suit, the religious following of the club will cease to be.

I really hope the club prospers but there seems to be an apathy in the city about the club that gives the impression that many have had enough and that is going to be tough to shake. And many of the kids growing up just are not as interested as i was. Rugby has a lot of competition for the peoples pound these days and my worry is in the city of Wakefield it is losing out badly as plenty I have spoken to are already lapsed supporters and others are as disillusioned as i am. As a true yorkshireman my season ticket has been paid for and i will get full value for it by attending every game i can this season. My one hope now is my last season doesn't result in our relegation otherwise i fear the club will be a second tier one for an awful long time to come.

Thats a very well thought out and put together post mate....a lot of which I find tough to disagree with....

This is a very inspiring and wonderful thread. It is great to read so many memories and stories, some of which I fear are before my time.

My first game was in the early 1980s, lower league. We beat Huddersfield (how often do we say that now?). It was maybe a year or two after Wally Lewis; oh how I'd of loved to have seen him play in the Wakefield shirt. (If anyone has a video of him playing I'd love to see it.)

I never had the glory days of Wembley. In fact to date I've never been to Wembley for an RL match. Always foolishly holding out until the day we make it.

I've seen us promoted 3 times, relegated and demoted. I was there at the McAlpine (as was called) to see us beat Featherstone and feel the elation of promotion. I've been to the 2 Yorkshire Cup Finals (since I started following the team) and am proud to say we are the current holders of the Yorkshire Cup

In the 90's I left the Wakefield area to go to University in East Yorkshire and have remained here. As a result of cost, time, commitments, living abroad and now extensive travel with work I saw few games in a period between the 90's and the last decade.

I still live a fair distance away and it is 100 mile round trip for a home game. No longer do I only see the team when they play in Hull or I'm visiting the folks. I go as much as I realistically can.

I've held a season ticket for 3 years now. Although I don't get my money back in games attended (due to work travel taking me away) I feel a part of this club.

I often get frustrated with the management behind the scenes and the players. Yet whenever the whistle goes to start a match I feel as though I'm there on the pitch feeling every tackle, every emotion, every moment.

Sopt on.

I'm about a year ahead of you and trust me there's a lot out there in the big wide world.

That said I think this forum attracts the 40-60 age group and possibly isn't typical. I think we are a bit like an ageing squad, we haven't quite got the stamina required to support Trinity but can't call it a day because there aren't enough fans to take our place. It seems many of us probably more by coincidence than owt else have reached this point at roughly the same time - for many of us it's now a bridge to far.

Still a few wins and some warm weather, sometimes it doesn't take much.

Agree completely.

I also dont think the game has helped itself. I find the players very much the same irrelivant of the positions they play. None of them can bend there backs properly as they all spend there time in the gym trying to improve there upper body strength. All about impact.

I watch old footage from time to time expecting it to look slow and laboured, but some of the handling and lines of running are fantastic. Small guys picking out the big props to run at and vica versa.
Nowadays, theres too much emphasis on slowing the play the ball down, with wrestling techniques, "winning arm wrestles" and whatever else the latest phrase is to come from the coaching courses/Stevo. The game is becoming almost robotic. The downside of all this is that alot of the skill has been taken out of the game and for me it is losing its appeal as a spectacle, be it Wakey or the other games on sky.

Having said all the above, Friday cant come soon enough!! Just hope im not ready for off by half time....................again!