Just been thinking about the situation at the Crusaders and my biggest concern for them is attracting a consistent crowd of spectators to fund this club.

Will many regularly travel from South Wales to support them? Will the club be able to attract the locals in to the ground, in an area which has little rugby league presence?

I personally don't expect big increases in away support. There may be big followings from the likes of Warrington, Wigan and St Helens, but the curiosity factor of South Wales ensured healthy away followings throughout last season.

How much effort is being put in to market the Crusaders in North Wales? Particularly in context of the Rhinos game?

It makes interesting viewing.

By the looks of it theres people coming from all over, to watch the Crusaders, season tickets sales have been quoted as being "strong", people I know coming from Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and theres plenty coming from the original Crusaders territory. The marketing in the North is going full swing atm, Crusaders make the local papers daily (back page too), theres advertising round town.

Expect a pretty good crowd first game! Not sure how it'll go after that really depends on whether Cru give Leeds a game or not I suppose.

I know a lot from the area, ex league heartland guys who are going.

You know, I think they should market weekend breaks in Chester.
Hear me out, its a popular tourist area but people from Yorkshire and the like will never have been there, a night in chester onto the game etc

Strong depends on what your expectation was originally , if it was 10 , 20 is strong , if it was 500 then 50 isn't

Why the Foomongering hell would people travel 50 miles to watch your e when they will have followed a club in their home town for years???

Why the Foomongering hell would people travel 50 miles to watch your poop when they will have followed a club in their home town for years???'"

You've peaked too soon pal.

When you say plenty coming from the original Crusaders territory, well the away travel last season was about 50. I have not heard of one single EXTRA supporter willing to make the away journey to "home" matches and have spoken with a significant section of those travelling fans who have said they'll not bother.

SAYING that I know there's about 10 who WILL give it a go, at least for the first match or two, of which I SUSPECT that will have halved by March.


All this being said, I think predictions of season ticket sales being "strong" are perhaps equally optimistic. However, the amount of "best Aussies we could get at short notice" that have signed, along with Jamie Thackeray who is, I imagine, the Wrexham Crusaders' "marquee signing" who knows? The imported players of this imported side may just prove me wrong and get the tens of Wrexham sports fans turning out in droves!

jamie thackray? The same jamie thackray linked with dews & fev a few weeks ago. The same jamie thackray that has more emotional baggage he makes marralin mansun (no idea of spelling) seem well adjusted?
If this is the type of player crusaders are pinning their hopes on, i can see more input being required from the rfl to prop the club up before the seasons end!

We'll just see how it goes. I really do have grave reservations.

Thackray if he could sort himself out...top player.
However..........

So basically a team made up of players other clubs didn't want , Nobby's got his work cut out

Lupton, Youngquest and Thacko would be "ok(ish)" in our league now. In SL they will be very ordinary at best!!

We'll see how good he is now after years of having nice well off teams.
Personally I think they've signed well.
A couple of the players no one's heard of are good young aussies rather than over the hill types.

Their biggest issue will be the underprepared start, very unprepared

That's 'an' issue! Poor prep, inadequate familiarisation, an 'ordinary' looking squad - if the expected tonkings happen early on, the crowds will hardly flock to support the cause. The away fans will drop the fixture as NOT being one of their priorities! e.g. some Wakey fans on a restricted budget (I know loads!!) may have to pick and choose which away games they go to. With the crusaders perhaps being looked upon as a foregone conclusion (again, it is by many I know, not all - but by most), then they may prioritize a trip to Leeds, Cas, Northern, Wigan etc than the expense of a journey to Wrexham to see a nowt game!!!! - and believe me, that's how some of the people I know who watch SL are now regarding the crusaders fixture!!


As I said, that's "IF" the expected happens!