I dont understand how he's always been a big RL fan via TV but can't be ar*ed to walk a few 100 yards to see first grade RL on his doorstep.

Is everybody in London who likes RL necessarily a Broncos fan?

It would hardly be surprising if Barwick supported Saints or another northern side.

There are lots of RL fans of Northern clubs who have moved permanently down here who we see when their 'historical' home town team come to play the Broncos. How many travel home for games i dont know, but I sense a lot drift from attending because following their local team - such as St Helens - was more part of the local tribal culture than being true RL fans. Others, such as teachers working here on short term contracts have attended Broncos games as floating fans while still being aligned to their home team, and pop back when its convenient.
There are also many - like Wirequin - who support the broncos permanently as their team now they live down here (except possibly when they play their 'historical' home team). I see fans like Wirequin as RL fans first and foremost and just accept that switching loyalties to the local team is just being practical. If i moved to Hull i would support one of the Hull teams because RL is what i like. Broncos just happens to be my local team when i live here.
From what Barwick said on Sky his knowledge is limited to watching SL on TV and didn't declare he supported any team. I still say if he's really a RL fan he would have got down to the Stoop for a few games.

I think it is the old "Are you a fan of a club or fan of the game?" debate.

Personally I would have done as you said and watched Broncos however bad they were.

But I can think of very many folk who are genuine RL fans but wouldn't have done this because their existing club loyalties were too strong.

I think Barwick is first and foremost a soccer man with an interest in RL but soccer culture doesn't usually tolerate watching another club because you are geographically removed from "your club".

Didn't want to start a new thread, but so many seem to have been closed that this could have featured in.

Anyway "Nosey Parker" today raises the news from a source that we are to move to Barnet Copthall. Is it just another one of his false rumours only time will tell.

It would be a 3G pitch but is that the future if grounds are going to be multi purpose, will we have a shareholding or just a tenant if true.

Interesting that Bradford Bulls players were complaining and tweeting photo's of leg burns & scars after playing at the weekend at Widnes on their 3G pitch, I thought that had all died down?

Moving out of bed with one Rugby Union team and jumping straight into bed with another? This is the London Broncos, that would probably be seen as a sensible business plan by those in charge of the club.

Careful - you'll set our little Antipodean orc off again! Personally, I've no problems with ground sharing with Sarries at Barnet - artificial pitch and all - after all, by the law of averages Dave Parker's got to get something right one day

As far as the Bradford players are concerned, this sounds like they're trying to make excuses after blowing a winning position (welcome to the club, gentlemen!).

The club should probably have linked up with Sarries from the off.

Unlike Gus those guys know how to flog a dead horse.

Plus McFly must be a step up from the usual bands we get to see.

A union ground that is more difficult to get to then the Stoop. Yeah, we'll probably end up there.

Had a look at their web site


Allianz Park is perfectly located in the beating heart of north London. Barely 20 minutes from the West End, 27 minutes from St Albans, 15 minutes from Highgate, Hampstead and Enfield, 20 minutes by train from Kings Cross, close to the Northern Line at Mill Hill East and overland rail at Mill Hill Broadway.

Beating heart of north london!!!!! Some poetic licence on times - looks like a nightmare to get to.

I'd happily go to Barnet Copthall - in a time machine that took me back to Tankie Gordon's Crusaders team of 1993/94

When we were on speaking terms

Gus said they had looked at the site as an option....fast forward to now and rather than look at the site, Sarries are in with a 1.5 million a year sponsorship/naming rights deal (1/3 of the cost IIRC).......good job we "looked at it first" eh



Fans of the Broncos should have no problem sharing with them (or anyone else so long as it's not Gillingham), but the club really need to get people in place to make it work.
By work, I don't mean change the markings on the pitch and open the doors.,......I mean WORK. This would involve an interjection by the RFL if it is to be taken seriously.....otherwise we'll get more of the same off-field that the club have delivered for the last 2 and a bit seasons.

Looking at a 15 minute walk from the station, a short bus ride.....but failing that.....Parking should be fun!!
[urlhttp://barneteye.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/saracens-cpz-zone-set-to-turn-mill-hill.html[/url

Outstanding post!

Seems a good option but a pain to get too for most London fans. Good for the northern teams, straight off the M1.

Right, belated thanks. Missed it when you posted it. Probably only interested in single match tickets.

Perhaps they could run a bus from Mill Hill East

The Brutemaster........those were the days

That is what Saracens do.

We couldn't run an orgy in a brothel let alone a bus!

have you got a Fez?

Difficult to get to from Kent why we are moving from the stoop is beyond me

Please keep up. It is so Gus has an excuse for not growing crowds this season and next.

IMHO, this is spot on



Other than SELCO comming on board as a shirt sponsor at the end of last year (47 games into his tenure), please can someone highlight the positives from the back office at the club since January 14th 2011.

On the pitch, which as CEO is also his responsibility, we have won 14 SL games out of 60 played whilst off the pitch we have now lost 35% of our fans, been subjected to a farcical and failed rebrand and are now being moved because the club and in particular the man in charge has failed to grab the bulls by the horns and actually get into some work.

He has done a hatchet job.......cutting costs wherever possible but always ensuring his survival in the process.......

IN MY OPINION THAT IS!

Whatever Crusaders did first others follow

Checked out the planning conditions for the Barnet Copthall development. Conditions 3 & 4 only allow for 16 Saracens games per year. Our club would have to apply to vary these conditions. IMO the residents would object and the council would refuse the application.