Ask Alf he knows it all

There is one thing with the dolls gone. Shuttermans photos will now take less time to look through

Calm down dear! Don't worry about the mascot he tweeted this today.

Daddy Cool ‏@TheDaddy_Cool 18 Oct
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Cats need a end of season rest too!

If there's enough people who care, you can always find volunteers to sell those tickets, in the same way I assume programme sellers still get a percentage.

I'm yet to see anyone quantify exactly what benefit we as a club got from the Dolls doing non-Wakefield events. Exposure for them maybe, but not sure it ever was that crucial for the club.

In a way, you're asking for the impossible from fans - we can only speculate what added value the Dolls represented; the club could be in a position to actually quantify it, but I doubt anyone there has gathered the data.

Perhaps I am, I just don't think the Dolls dancing at a boxing event etc. that has no link to the club has any benefit for the club, but plenty for the Dolls bank balance. It's one of those statements oft repeated that appears to have become fact.

I don't think so; having seen what they do in terms of dance and community activities with young kids, especially girls, I can't imagine how that can have been anything other than positive in terms of raising the profile of the club - dance workshops, summer camps, school visits, womens fitness, touch rugby all off the top of my head, and all the associated extra bodies that brings i.e parents, teachers, partners etc.

I share your view about the other promo work, but given that none bar the obvious exception were employed by the club on anything other than a casual basis, I guess that's their business.

You've summed up what I meant to write I think! The dance stuff involving the club obviously has some benefits, and hopefully more if it's all in-house now, so to speak.

(Personally, a load of kids dancing out of time to the music is not entertaining to me. The one where they had them in school uniform last year was way over the boundaries of good taste in the current climate.)

There are a few points raised in this thread which are certainly misunderstood!

The dolls, yes did get paid, a very small amount for the hard work they put in. This however, did not come close to the money made by the ticket sales on a matchday. The profit the dolls made for the club on a through ticket sales far outweighed their payment. This therefore ends the 'we can't afford them' argument, as they did not cost the club anything. The experience the dolls have gained over the past 8 years of selling tickets at many different kinds of events - rugby, football, boxing - makes them more than perfect for the job, and would make them far better than any random stood at the side of the street. The girls are instantly recognisable when doing this job and many people go to specific girls to get their tickets every week.

My niece has been a member of the wildcat kittens for many years run by Sarah Elston and won't be returning now the dolls are not running it anymore. They gave the children brilliant opportunities, most recently arranging for the children to do three world cup games, representing wakefield wildcats! This kind of exposure makes more girls want to become involved in the academy, bringing in more class money and ticket money. The dance academy and all other community work the girls have done brings in ticket sales to games every week - there is the added benefit of community work.

There may be other 'younger girls' which would jump at the chance of being the wakefield wildcat dancers, but many others complain that dancers under 21 is a bit 'seedy' - a point which i don't agree with, as it depends which way you're looking at it. i personally am appreciating the dancing, not looking at them in THAT WAY. The dolls have danced at all home games every season for the past 8 years, so commenting that they do more other events than events at wakefield doesn't even make sense. They can't do more wakefield events if there aren't any!

Although i realise this has been a bit of an essay. The most important point i would like to make is that you're all talking about a group of girls that like to dance! They all auditioned to be part of the wakefield wildcats cheerleading team because they wanted to dance for the club because they are interested in rugby, and all some of you can do is talk negative about them! They're young girls who don't deserve to have all this talk about them, let them just do what they like to do, which is dance!
As for staff at wakefield wildcats - a) Sarah Elston left her post to pursue a different career - she was not booted out. b) yes other staff have left - and from what i've heard the past couple of week i don't blame them!

A very well put together and heartfelt argument that I can't disagree with one bit, not that I'd want to.

I hope that there's a way for the Dolls and Wakefield Trinity to continue working together, there's no doubt that they both benefit immensely from the association. Beyond that they do a massive amount of valuable community work and I can't remember there being a queue of people volunteering to do it before. If it all begins to unravel and the community work and opportunities dry up then it's the youngsters that really lose out and I'd hate to see that happen.

They may very well be replaced who knows. For my part I'm not fussed on game day. Barely notice them and they seem to get a poor reception overall from the supporters bar behind old dugouts.

What they brought off the field I really don't know but they are gone and thanks to them. I'm sure they have benefitted the club in some capacity off field and vice versa their association with the club has been a positive for the dancers and the business that has been built up.

They are not irreplaceable like most things and should the club be in a position to invest in that area again I'm sure we will see developments on the community side. But they are now gone and spilt milk and all that.

Been enough crying and weeping alongside the moaning on here to last a whole season never mind an off season. Forward charge and build up again.

As has been said, I won't lose any sleep over them going.

I go to the matches to watch the rugby and drink beer. That's all.

Can't say I'm bothered by their departure. They add nothing to my game day experience therefore to me they are replaceable. Hell they could change the line up each week and I'd be none the wiser. Can't speak for others though.

Wild Thing and KK you need to look at the bigger picture as perfectly highlighted in DLanghams post. A club needs to engage with its community. The dance teams were great, it was not uncommon to see up to 100 youngsters dancing on match days, engaging them and their parents with the club.

Snipped for space but I agree with you.

I can't say I really watch them but they do add something.
And assuming you are still correct about costs I'd keep them, though taking Elston out of the picture might mean it isn't as good. I don't know.