: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:58 am
moxi1 wrote:
Well the games lasted over 100 years and its at an all time high at the moment, it wont dissapear at all. People prefer to play league and watch alot more then kickball union!
We have existed & struggled for most of that time with the odd strong period. But we have only been full time pro for 12 years & a few clubs would be in big trouble without the TV money from SKY & if we are not seen to be a national & international sport the advertising revenue value to SKY & our sponsors will diminish & we will end up as a parocial oddity. Super league is a two edged sword we have to be full time to compete & to compete we have to increase our income to pay players full time wages or loose out to other sports who can pay.
Your figures about people want to play & watch League more than Union are Im afraid wish full thinking even in the immediate area around Hull more kids play Union than League & in the country as a whole the numbers are much greater even with the massive surge in players in the London area & succsess of the summer conference , we are in a small enclave, Hull has 4 or 5 well attended Union clubs running alongside League, Beverley has a Union club putting out 3 somtimes 4 open age sides & juniors at all ages the League club struggles to carry on. I love League & dont mind Union but Im not blind as to what is going on & dont think we can be in the slightest bit complaicent or we could loose our great game.