London game confirmed

[Wintergreen]

FWIW I don't think it's that bad an idea to try out East London.

The "problem" with West London (if it is indeed a problem) is that it's essentially Rugby Union territory. How many people from Wigan would turn up to watch a Saracens vs Wasps game I wonder?

The issue with the East of London is that most don't follow Rugby at all. A signficant proportion are immigrants with no interest in it, the indiginous folk are Soccer through and through.

Worth a try though perhaps (if you pardon the pun).

[Wandering Warrior]

35 years + Rugby League was introduced to London and we expect to excite folk on a game where the only meaning of the match will be to the stay at homes 200 miles away.
Somebody has already mentioned the high price of tickets, I wonder what IL considers a good turnout and the venture a success?
I suspect we'll never get a true answer to that question.
It's a must win from the team point of view, should be interesting.

[No straw damn us]

35 years + Rugby League was introduced to London and we expect to excite folk on a game where the only meaning of the match will be to the stay at homes 200 miles away.
Somebody has already mentioned the high price of tickets, I wonder what IL considers a good turnout and the venture a success?
I suspect we'll never get a true answer to that question.
It's a must win from the team point of view, should be interesting.

Do you think £20 or £10 for concessions is a high price?

[Bunny]

East London?

I would imagine one of the reasons your chose The Den is because inner city London or docklands would be a much more reflective description of its location.

Technically southeast London, in geography terms.

But, being a 4 minute ride from London Bridge & a few miles from Charing Cross as the crow flies makes it inner city London.

The Den sits on the border of Lewisham and Southwark; which have a combined population of c.600,000. There is significant immigrant population. Bermondsey is still circa 65% white British, with the next biggest group being black British (unless you think they count as immigrants?).

You are probably thinking of Millwall, Tower Hamlets, over the river - where the club were founded in 1885. Yes, that area does have a high immigrant population.

However, the main point is where The Den sits...being one stop from London Bridge and near tube stations means it accessible to people across London and the southeast, as well as being straightforward to get to for anyone visiting the capital.

As said earlier in the thread, Australia managed to attract over 7,000 people to a meaningless friendly v Ecuador on a cold Wednesday night at The Den last year.

We are not on the outskirts of London, in either the west or east London suburbs (altho to be fair QPR are an inner city club, but see what I said about the parking & facilities)...us, Arsenal and Chelsea are as about inner city as you can get...so you can see why your chairman went with us.

Furthermore, but some quirk of acoustics The Den is good at trapping and amplifying sound, maybe because the stands are steep and close to the pitch...so if, IF, you can attract 7-10,0000 it would still create a decent atmosphere.

[OAMJSONA]

London is vital to ANY sport in this country and why should we not try to develop RL across all of Britain. Yes, there is a lot of work still to be done in the North but we should never simply accept our lot and give up hope / desire to make RL a nationwide sport.

They have been trying in London since the early 70,s how long do you want to give them. I remember going down for the Lancashire Cup game ( yes Lancashire cup ) when a certain older Reg Bowden played us off the park

[Wandering Warrior]

As I said, should be interesting. I have a season ticket and won't be going, otherwise engaged. However I wouldn't be turning out, free seat or not, to travel down to London, early doors and getting home some six hours after the match.
Wembley in a Challenge Cup final is another matter, but I'm sure you get my drift.
I some tickets at £35 and yhought you are having a laugh.
What do you see as being a reasonable turnout?
Is Reg Bowden still alive?

[OAMJSONA]

As I said, should be interesting. I have a season ticket and won't be going, otherwise engaged. However I wouldn't be turning out, free seat or not, to travel down to London, early doors and getting home some six hours after the match.
Wembley in a Challenge Cup final is another matter, but I'm sure you get my drift.
I some tickets at £35 and yhought you are having a laugh.
What do you see as being a reasonable turnout?
Is Reg Bowden still alive?

looks as though he is ( in 2014 anyway )


FORMER Widnes Cup King Reg Bowden has today been inducted into the Hall of Fame at London Broncos.

The London Broncos Supporters Association announced the seven players that will be the foundation members of the Hall of Fame, with players spanning the Fulham, Crusaders, Quins and London Broncos eras.

Player-coach and scrum-half of the original Fulham team, Bowden was one of the key figures at the club in the Craven Cottage era from 1980 to 1984.

He signed for Widnes in 1968 and was a major influence in the Widnes teams that dominated Rugby League in the 1970s. He made 16 major cup final appearances for Widnes, including four Wembley cup finals and won every club honour in the game.

After leaving Fulham in June 1984 he was coach at Warrington for two years. Described his four years with Fulham as ‘The best of my life’.

Steve Newcombe, of The London Broncos Supporters Association, said: “We felt it was very important to hold a dignified and respectful event to honour those who have played for the club in its various guises for nearly 35 years.”

“Having shared this ambition with the Broncos, they were only too willing to work with us to deliver this and have ultimately integrated the Hall of Fame into the pre-game event against Wigan.”

The other six members Hussain M’Barki, Mark Johnson, Scott Roskell, Peter Gill, Rob Purdham and Steele Retchless were announced today (Saturday) at a pre-match lunch hosted by Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards and Mike Ford.

[Wandering Warrior]

Thanks for that,looked on wiki but nowt there.
I think Rob Purdham was the guy who got shot when Derek Bird had his morning g of madness in Cumbria?

[Wandering Warrior]

Sorry, was his brother, out on the farm and bang.
Some folk must be really screwed up?

[Wintergreen]

East London?

I would imagine one of the reasons your chose The Den is because inner city London or docklands would be a much more reflective description of its location.

Technically southeast London, in geography terms.

But, being a 4 minute ride from London Bridge & a few miles from Charing Cross as the crow flies makes it inner city London.

The Den sits on the border of Lewisham and Southwark; which have a combined population of c.600,000. There is significant immigrant population. Bermondsey is still circa 65% white British, with the next biggest group being black British (unless you think they count as immigrants?).

You are probably thinking of Millwall, Tower Hamlets, over the river - where the club were founded in 1885. Yes, that area does have a high immigrant population.

However, the main point is where The Den sits...being one stop from London Bridge and near tube stations means it accessible to people across London and the southeast, as well as being straightforward to get to for anyone visiting the capital.

As said earlier in the thread, Australia managed to attract over 7,000 people to a meaningless friendly v Ecuador on a cold Wednesday night at The Den last year.

We are not on the outskirts of London, in either the west or east London suburbs (altho to be fair QPR are an inner city club, but see what I said about the parking & facilities)...us, Arsenal and Chelsea are as about inner city as you can get...so you can see why your chairman went with us.

Furthermore, but some quirk of acoustics The Den is good at trapping and amplifying sound, maybe because the stands are steep and close to the pitch...so if, IF, you can attract 7-10,0000 it would still create a decent atmosphere.

I was using broad brush terms. East vs West (and it's more East than West )

I know where it is, I have a friend who used to live in Kidbrooke, (but don't hold that against me )