And if not...... why not?



Subsidised beer



Big screens



Pool tables



Club memorabilia on the walls



Competitions/members draws



'meet the players' type events on certain days of the week



A % of the profits go directly back to your club





We have 'leagues' clubs in Australia... a similar concept.



When I suggested a 'leagues club' type set up would benefit Harlequins RL by attracting cashed up Antipodeans looking for cheap grog and a decent night out (and thereby potentially coming to watch the team play) I was banned from their forum for suggesting it



So have any SL clubs given this one a go?



I cant see how it could possibly be a bad idea

Not a bad idea. I would love one at Wigan, between the ground and the town centre!

I've been enjoying your posts lately Barry, but you really need to give up telling people you got banned, whereas in reality you got rinsed and taken apart so badly that it is the only forum you are fearful of re-visiting, for whatever bizarre reason

Which ones?



The ones where I've said I'm leaving the UK I imagine

No, I haven't seen those, but then I suppose it was inevitable. A shame. Will you return?

Not a chance!!!! I am soooo over London!!





So come on mate... why wouldnt the concept of a social club/leagues club thing work for your club?



Surely if ever there was a club who would benefit from one it would be Quins?

I know what you mean, London is a bit rubbish. I'm sick of it too.



It wouldn't work for us because a) we don't own our own ground/land, b) our supporers come from far and wide and it wouldn't be sustainable. I'd love to see it happen obviously and it sounds great, but it wouldn't work for us, yet.



UK culture is immensely different to Australian culture too (for the worse) - people would rather stay in and be miserable than go to their local league club for a nice time.



I think Wigan and perhaps Leeds could make something like this work.

Barry, this is the first of your posts i have ever taken seriously and i think it is a great idea. As well as creating a focal point for fans to socialise outside game day, you could hold fans forums, meet the players etc and generate extra income for the club.

You know it makes sense my friend.



'Leagues clubs' in Australia are great.. if you are ever over there I can thoroughly recommend them. You just sign in as a guest if you are not a member... they have good food, cheaper beer than pubs, raffles, meet the players type events, etc etc



Good places for fans of clubs (and RL in general) to meet and have a few cold ones over a decent steak



I lived in Queanbeyan (near Canberra) for a while and Queanbeyan Leagues was excellent



The end product might have to be a bit different here but the fundamentals would be the same



Its a winner.

League Clubs are one of the only things that interest me in Australia, places that are totally brilliant and unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If I was to travel there, I'd probably fit my trip around trying to visit most/all of them.

Dave, the reasons you state for NOT having a leagues club are exactly the reasons you SHOULD have one.



Your supporters come from far and wide, allegedly. OK, maybe, but you still dont have enough of them. A leagues club would be a good way to get local people in.



Depending on how the rah rah boys feel, how good would it be if there was a COMBINED leagues/unions club? That way you stand a chance of converting some of the union fans, if there is a consistent league buzz about the place.



Leagues clubs are there for bringing in new people too - why assume we have to simply preach to those already converted?