: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:09 pm  

Even so, surely to share a nickname with one of the biggest and most successful sporting organisations in the world isn't such a bad thing?

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:04 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

My point still has been missed. It'snot about who are the original Red Devils or not. You don't seem to be able to understand that. It's not about fans that are "worth their salt" either. There are very very few fans that know a lot about the history of the clubs they support. Clubs aren't trying to attract fans that are "worth their salt" because they don't need to. If they were worth their salt they would already be fans. It's about awareness for people that don't have a clue about RL or Salford. It's about attracting them to the club. And then it's about making them worth their salt.

My point is, by sharing the same nickname as a sporting club that is MUCH MUCH bigger (and that still doesn't descrive how big Man Utd are compared to Salford!). It doesn't matter who got it first, the fact is it is Red Devils means "Man Utd" to a hell of a lot more people in that area than it does "Salford", and trying to tell anyone "not worth their salt" that Salford are the original Red Devils won't make a jot of difference no matter how right it is.

Righto, then, we'll just forget about being the Red Devils and ignore such a hugely important and vital part of our history, just because of MUFC.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:14 pm  

'Hitman' Norvern Soul wrote:

Even so, surely to share a nickname with one of the biggest and most successful sporting organisations in the world isn't such a bad thing?

Not saying it is or it isn't, but would be interested to know why you think that?

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:19 pm  

GT wrote:

Righto, then, we'll just forget about being the Red Devils and ignore such a hugely important and vital part of our history, just because of MUFC.

Who said anything about forgetting your past? That is a complete over-reaction to something you're not happy to hear.

My question to you is will being known as the "Red Devils" or the "Reds" in an area where there are two of the biggest sports teams in the world with the same nicknames help increase your clubs awareness to the public?

And if not, what value do you put on awareness to the progress of your club?

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:55 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

My question to you is will being known as the "Red Devils" or the "Reds" in an area where there are two of the biggest sports teams in the world with the same nicknames help increase your clubs awareness to the public?

And if not, what value do you put on awareness to the progress of your club?

It'd take more than a nickname to increase the public's awareness of Salford RLFC and, indeed, attendances. I do value the progress of our club, if Salford don't progress over the next few years we're knackered. Big time. But suggesting that keeping Red Devils as our nickname would be part of the problem is ridiculous. In fact, if marketed properly, the tag "Original Red Devils" could be a pretty big draw and make people sit up and take notice.

Although, to be perfectly honest, people are aware of Salford, that's not the problem. The problem is we can't tempt anyone to get off their a.rses and come to the games. And it's got nothing to do with the Red Devils moniker.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:15 pm  

GT wrote:

It'd take more than a nickname to increase the public's awareness of Salford RLFC and, indeed, attendances. I do value the progress of our club, if Salford don't progress over the next few years we're knackered. Big time. But suggesting that keeping Red Devils as our nickname would be part of the problem is ridiculous. In fact, if marketed properly, the tag "Original Red Devils" could be a pretty big draw and make people sit up and take notice.

Although, to be perfectly honest, people are aware of Salford, that's not the problem. The problem is we can't tempt anyone to get off their arses and come to the games. And it's got nothing to do with the Red Devils moniker.

I don't think it is ridiculous to suggest it is part of the problem at all. It would be ridiculous to suggest it IS the problem, because it clearly isn't. The lack of a distinctive and recognisable name that makes people think of Salford rather than someone else could be a factor in why many people may not be aware of them or even be attracted to them. It could even be putting some people off (i.e. people that don't like Man Utd).

Like I've said, Salford's problem isn't their name (they have many!). But it could be part of it.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:15 pm  

Starbug wrote:

We were asked if we wanted another name , most said we wanted just Leigh RLFC as it used to be , if we did have to have a name then we might as well stick to what we have [ as bad as it is ] as it was relevant at the time as we took up the name on our 100 th birthday as a club and many juniors

Oh dear, Steve. Oh dear, oh dear. Are you sure you don't want to review this before it becomes public knowledge at the game tomorrow?

For the unitiated, the club were formed in 1878, with the Centurions nickname being introduced alongside the RL centenary in this country, Leigh of course being founder members of the Northern Union and therefore 'Centurions' of rugby league

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:25 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

I don't think it is ridiculous to suggest it is part of the problem at all. It would be ridiculous to suggest it IS the problem, because it clearly isn't. The lack of a distinctive and recognisable name that makes people think of Salford rather than someone else could be a factor in why many people may not be aware of them or even be attracted to them. It could even be putting some people off (i.e. people that don't like Man Utd).

Like I've said, Salford's problem isn't their name (they have many!). But it could be part of it.

It's nothing to do with it. It's the fact that people would rather watch Salford on Sky when they're within walking distance of the Willows. The fact that people who live by the ground always ask you who "we" are playing and that they hope "we" win. The lack of glamour and success is the problem we've got, nothing else. Cheaper ticket prices, ticket offers, visits to schools, the new ground and a more successful side are what we need. Our nickname won't affect that - especially as to most people we're just Salford RLFC anyway.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:30 pm  

Leyther_Matt wrote:

Oh dear, Steve. Oh dear, oh dear. Are you sure you don't want to review this before it becomes public knowledge at the game tomorrow?

For the unitiated, the club were formed in 1878, with the Centurions nickname being introduced alongside the RL centenary in this country, Leigh of course being founder members of the Northern Union and therefore 'Centurions' of rugby league

Our hundredth birthday as a RL club , surely you know thats what I meant Matt

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:59 pm  

GT wrote:

It's nothing to do with it. It's the fact that people would rather watch Salford on Sky when they're within walking distance of the Willows. The fact that people who live by the ground always ask you who "we" are playing and that they hope "we" win. The lack of glamour and success is the problem we've got, nothing else. Cheaper ticket prices, ticket offers, visits to schools, the new ground and a more successful side are what we need. Our nickname won't affect that - especially as to most people we're just Salford RLFC anyway.

You're still missing the point.

Let's assume that Salford have an average of about 4,500 fans that go to games. Are there more 5,500 Salford fans sat at home not going to the game? And do you realistically expect them to get them all to the game?

Every club has fans that don't go to the game. You only have to look at the amount of FC fans that come out of the woodwork when we get to a final. You're never gonna get them all to the ground every week. You can't expect everyone that knows who Salford are to turn up. You need to expand how many people are aware of your club, hope that a fair amount of these are attracted to the club (so that they consider Salford "their team"), then become attached to the club so that they attend regularly, then form allegiance with the club so they become loyal and stick by it no matter what.

If you have a small base of awareness, you'll generally have a smaller basis of attraction, attachment, and allegiance. It's the Psychological Continuum Model.