I infact live in sale and being finished I dont have a beer with the lads anymore and knowing them they probably haven't stop whooping with delight the last 3 years or so



I do have a young child and he is in bed @ 7:30 so he wouldnt be awake for it, im lucky or unlucky that my better half never really got bit by the Salford bug so she can take it or leave it these days I blame myself reaily too much too soon not going to make the same mistake with my son.

Personally I probably wont bring my son till I started going aged 7+ before he doesn't get anything out of it and im to busy making sure he is ok to concentrate on what is going on.
Good friends of mine do take their children to the match and I have ultimate respect for them keeping a toddler amused for 2 + hours is a massive job big hat tip

In 5 years time in theory he could have his tea with his mum id finish at 6:30 like I do now they could meet me at work perhaps a McDonald's or somthing before we meet or I could go get him recon its doable and ill still get to the match for 7:20

Sunday would be easier but I recon a choice between playing football in the park, picnic and then home to watch a bit of tv or watching salford there is only going to be one winner and it wont be salford

I've always been a Sunday supporter but giving Fridays a try was always worth a go. Without going over the same arguments endlessly about the pros and cons of both, should we look at it from the new owner and Farish's perspective?

Both are desperately trying to raise the profile around the local areas with the Dr himself about to give kids free tickets in schools. The aim is obviously to get the kids hooked and get families in. This will only happen with an afternoon kick-off. Be it Saturday or Sunday. Both want to get revenue streams in quick and they have to target the obvious ones first. Increase family presence, increase away support. Both can be done by just changing what day we play.

I can't see Fridays lasting forever.

I agree that the product was right this weekend but I also thought the Saturday tea time kickoff worked a treat too.

Pointing at previous Saturday evening attendances as 'evidence' that it's not worth trying is completely flawed because:

a) these games were poorly promoted and it was an unfamiliar timeslot
b) if you look at the fixtures that sky lumbered us with it was usually the likes of Crusaders, London etc.

The club did a lot right this weekend and if we can package and promote each game as a family event Saturdays could work.

Spot on!

I honestly don't think it matters, if you want to be there you will. Simple. Some people like Sundays, some like Fridays. Playing on a Sunday will make only a minor difference if any at all to the attendances. Either way I'm not fussed.

Quite agree with Wayward Fan about Saturdays. Do a few Saturdays next season, when we improve the squad and hopefully are winning lots of games. the Saturday experience might be the call for Salford

You're right when it concerns existing fans. Existing fans are not enough apparently. Which day its played on will matter for potential new fans.

I think the record attendance against Catalans was more to do with it being the last game at the Willows...

Friday nights are easier for me to get home to Preston on public transport than Saturdays and Sundays, so this "OK if you live in Eccles" stuff is crap. And we get terrible attendance regardless of when we play.

It'll take more than a switch back from Fridays to increase crowds.

I take my two children aged 2 & 6 without a problem and I live 40 miles away. They sit perfectly throughout the game and get fully involved in all the singing and shouting. They love it!! It comes down to introducing them to it very early so they are now used to it whatever the day the game is on. I put them in their PJs in the car, they fall asleep on the journey home and are transferred into bed, no worries.

This debate will always centre around what your own personal preferences are. If it is that important to you, you will go whenever. There will always be some who work on fridays and some on sundays, some who have that kids play on sundays and those that go to do summer things like picnics, clashes with football/ cricket.

It is simply really, win and market it right and they will come. Lose every other week and they will continue to be ambivalent towards the club.

Strange how the lowest crowds at Barton have been afternoon games, despite thousands of families waiting to attend. Even last years family day with a full week of advertising in the MEN saw a pitiful attendance.

Another K/O day / Time topic , closely followed by by a Morley is coming Topic ...
It's Groundhog Day or I must have flipped back 8 years.
Firstly no matter what day , if you don't adequately publicise the club , the fixture dates and make the pricing structure attractive no one will know..

Trish Goldsmith advocated the Friday Evenings at the Willows, as it was the optimum time to attract the Corporate clients ( A jolly out after work on Friday ) , and TBH she did an effective job of it , also with the Variety Centre and Bar going into the coffers it made sense .
Now for the Hospitality to pay Salford have the get 400+ diners ( 40 tables of 10 ) , they currently struggle to get 20+.

Our home games K/O dates have been all over the place
ended last season having to play our last home game at Leigh on a Sat eve , 6.15
since then we've played our home games
1 Friday 3pm - Huddersfield
3 Friday 8pm , Wigan - tickets when on sale 2 days before K/O / London / Warrington
1 Saturday 3pm - Hull FC
1 Saturday 6.15 , Castleford BSB
1 Sunday 6.15, Hull KR BSB

after the Bradford game , our next two games will be Sunday 3pm at the Etihad, and Monday eve 7.45pm BSB

that'll be 4 different days and 4 different K/O times and not even 2/3's through the season. ridiculous !

whatever day , they need to stick to it , & properly promote , well in advance

Agree we need to pick a day and stick with it.

Personally I'd like to stay either with Friday night or say 7pm on Saturdays, think the time for Sunday afternoons has gone as there is now a great deal more things for families to be doing and we run the risk of being a only if there is nothing else on option. At least if we did say opt for the 7pm Saturday option there is the chance we can target and create an on going family atmosphere down at Barton.

I certainly think my children enjoyed it a lot more having the activities outside. We arrived just after 4 and the kids were out on the activities the whole time we were there. This in turn led to myself and other parents I was with to relax in the bar or with a drink in hand with the kids while taking part in the activities.

However I just don’t believe the Saturday tea time kick off would work. A lot of people already have many activities going on during a Saturday and suspect rugby at tea time - unless a hardcore, would not factor. I did also find that by the time we had got back to the car after the game and the kids to bed, they were tired Sunday morning and this impacted on their own matches.

There are a lot of pro's and con's and we seem to cover this subject every couple of months. Salford need to target the kids and getting them involved. Last year there was talk of re-introducing the Junior red devils and I am sure plenty of us who still go, were a part of this scheme in the late eighties and early nineties. I would go to all games at home because it was free and meant my mum only had to pay for herself so not a big hit on the pocket. I know we get the kids cheap still today if you purchase the family season tickets but this won’t attract the new followers to the game and you just don’t get that level of involvement as you use to on the junior reds.

One of the most easy wins the club could do would be to infact get the Junior red devils up and running again but then get every child under the age of 13 in the local amateur teams signed up. If they are a registered player, the club should then give them a free junior red devil membership. This then allows all kids who are involved in the game locally, access to their local professional team. You could further this by then giving parents discounted tickets at the rate you would pay on a season ticket so that this then encourages the parents to attend as the cost for 1 adult and 1 child to come is less than £20. You take a hit in the pocket that is for sure on gates but you are subconsciously gaining the next generation of supporters and with a winning and successful team you are likely to keep a high crowd over the next 15 years. You also get income over the bar and in other areas as alone this week, we spent over £100 in the club shop and over £50 on concessions.

Of the team I coach only possibly 3 or 4 kids are regulars at the games (this is out of 16). They are obviously interested in the game to be playing it at such a young age that they are and I am sure that you could break easily in to double figures who would attend if working on the above idea. I know when my other son's team have played before the match and at half time out on the pitch, the whole team has shown up along with parents to watch the game.

Yes GT but Fridays are best for you because it suits you! I make Fridays fine but I'm talking about potential fans that I have tried to persuade to come along but can't because of number 1 FACT that people work nights or 2/10 shifts that is something that is factual about Fridays you can't just give up your job to watch Salford, 2. Families in the majority with young kids won't make it as its to short a time frame to get all the family home fed washed and ready and to the stadium for 8:00, I know some families do try and honour of their way to make games but your in a small minority, so all those tickets Dr Koukash will be giving out to kids around Salford and MANCHESTER don't for get we're trying to tap into our neighbours to, how many do you think will make Fridays? Not many u would think. Saturdays would be perfect for me too but is that doable with the RFL?

All those who go to games for a up and a night out have to look at the bigger picture its not all about what excising fans want? We're all loyal and will get there some how no matter what but for new supporters its vital that we give them the perfect opportunity to make games.

It's also a pig for the away supporters coming over the penines at half five/six o'clock.

Rugby league is a family sport, and also a summer sport.

Most families I know in summer, on a sunday afternoon go for a drive somewhere or go to the seaside (if the wheather is suitable) or spend time with the grand parents or time with family (you get the picture).

I can't see why when the football season stops start saturday 3 o clocks? I went to the HUll game and felt right to be there on a saturday afternoon, and you tap into the huge football market that is there, who normally on saturday at 3pm are in the pub or at OT or Ethiad will have some spare time.

It is a hard problem to fix in the econimical climate but I think a change in direction next season is seriously needed, and I have full faith the Dr will put the right people in place (if he hasn't already).

We will never appeal to kids and families playing at 8pm on a Friday night. Simple as.

Erm, all I said was that I can get home easier when I live 40-odd miles from the ground. As it is, I attend Saturday and Sunday games as well, regardless of when they're played. There's a difference between providing a differing opinion and saying "I prefer Fridays as it suits me." If you read my post properly you'll notice I'm not saying which I prefer, just providing a few facts to provide a counter-balanced argument. I couldn't give a sh*t when games are played, but all things considered, nothing really points to Saturdays and Sundays attracting better crowds than Friday nights. Not based on current evidence, anyway.

I'm not really fussed which day we play on. I think Friday night games are a pain for away supporters but don't really see the massive problem it'd cause the majority of home supporters/potential supporters. If they really wanted to come then they would. Just because a few people work 10-2 shifts on a Friday night I don't see the point in changing to Sundays, I guarantee there wouldn't be a surge in attendances.

I do enjoy Sunday afternoon matches and like making a day of it, as do a lot of people that I know. Saying that though, I'd rather be rough on a Saturday morning than a Monday morning

Can we all discuss what will bring in new supporters/lapsed supporters with regards to kick-off day/time?

After all, I think the original argument was that Fridays are not really cutting it should we change?

Instead we get a load of the same old views remixed for 2013.

No change atm will bring surges in crowds, and I don't think that's the point. You can't take a few daytime games scattered through the season as an example of things, just like you can't take the last game at the Willows as an example of what we could get. The hardcore fans will come regardless, and I'm guessing the lapsed supporters will dribble back when we have a team that is performing/capable of winning any game. Hardcore and lapsed fans will not be enough though. The more new faces through the turnstiles the better chance of getting the ball rolling. There's no ideal day or time for everyone, but in our current precarious position it must be worth a punt at a change to see if it will bring in any new faces.

I have done, switch to staurday 3pm when the football season finishes :p

People working 2/10 shifts and night shifts are in numbers are nearly on par with people who work 9/5 shifts nowerdays, my brother who has been a fan for over 20 years can't go due to work commitments and as I've said before earlier in the thread another 9 people who I know would love to come cant due to working hours. Sat or Sundays would be the way forward for a fresh new and returning fan base.

I think you are forgetting that a lot of lapsed Salford fans are probably also United/City fans, so if they had to choose between the two sports I think the majority would side with the footy and a few pints in the pub. Friday is the only night of the week where there's hardly any football on the TV or played live.

I'm not saying that our biggest issue is a power struggle between RL and football - it's just one more thing thats worth consideration.

The same could be said for working weekends though could it not? My other half who is a season ticket holder works every other sunday so staright away we would then lose one fan to accomodate another. The way in which the country functions has altered significantly in the last 20 years. In the early 90's Sundays worked really well for the club as no shops opened, football only showed the super sunday 4pm game and there was far less of utd and city shown. People didn't have that much to occupy them as they do now.

We are facing the whole of a sociatal change to try and compete with getting crowds back in. We are also in the middle of the worst recession this country has seen and it all goes agsinst us. As i said previously, you get the product right on the pitch with a competative team, get the name of the club back in the thoughts of people in the area and the numbers will increase no matter what day of the weekend we play. The last 10 years though we have gone backwards in terms of the on-field product. We have left a residential area which must have pulled a significant number of walk up customers compared to now where the majority of former Willows goers cannot commute to easily and the local residents probably have no interest in the game. Great PR is what we need as Sale have shown it can be done.

Bang on. If somebody wants to go to a game, they'll make sure they are free. They'll swap shifts. They'll phone in sick. The kids will sleep in the car. Previous numbers, feedback and even this thread has proved that the difference between Friday, Saturday and Sunday is subjective.



I'm not sure about this. You can get to the ground easy enough. I still live in Weaste and very few people seem to be getting the buses. Either they must be getting taxis, driving up or have sacked it off. Most of the local people I spoke to who said the ground move was a travesty were people who never went in the first place.