Widnes have never really attracted huge gates Paul,apart from the occasional Challenge Cup Tie,League Derby and visits from the Kangaroos.Our best average in the Seventies was 7500,in the Eighties 8600.I think these days more and more local youngsters are drawn to Old Trafford and Anfield than the Stobart Stadium.Fair point about the Cas support,they really do have a strong and loyal fan base for the size of the town.Not making excuses but there is no Premiership football in the vicinity compared to about 4 or 5 clubs round here.

Spot on mate and no Premiership teams in the Castleford area.I have been watching Widnes since 9 years old and now 37.So Paul I do know what I am talking about.Been out of top flight for 6 years so will take time to build support like Castleford.The thing with Castleford they have also not spent much time in the lower league to lose fan base.Once in playoffs and better we can improve fans.

That's a good point Off The Cuff,about Cas not spending much time out of the top flight.I think we averaged around 4500 in 2007 when we had a good championship team containing Smith,Nanyn,Moran,Wilkes and Beswick but after failing to win promotion that support dropped off in the next few years.People just got fed up of seeing poor standard rugby with no prospect of promotion due to licensing.

No premiership football in Cas but Leeds who have a larger home support than alot of the Premiership a few miles away ?

As for Widnes, I always remember as a teenager Naughton Park being full. But then I suppose it was an old stadium with quite a small capacity so yeah, point taken. Out of interest, whats Saints average home gate in relation to the towns population ?

Not sure about Saints mate but the last time Naughton Park was full it had the best part of 19000 there for the Championship decider V Wigan in 1989.

Yes. Moved back to Liverpool and the bus stops just down the road. Also, if I'm in work on lates, I get get the train from Lime Street. The bus to Warrington is fairly handy too.

True - and though I find it hard to believe many Cas fans are also Leeds United supporters: even season ticket holders in the case of some Cas friends of mine.

Oh well,please yourself.I didn't realise Widnes was so difficult to get to from Liverpool.Myself,I couldn't drop my team for another.I notice people who switch allegiance from one club to another rarely choose a less successful team to support.You never hear of a Wigan fan throwing in the towel and going to watch Leigh instead.I suppose if Widnes were top of Super League with Saints languishing mid table in the Championship you would still be a fan of theirs because it's closer.

Spot on Ron. At least when we play post try music its not to sing our hatred for our arch rivals. Proves they are still bitter all these years on. Arrogant s.

err "shoot the wire scum"?

Ashame Doc Holiday does not support Widnes anymore.But seems a decent guy.

population 160,000 combined I.Q - 4. We do love our warrington neighbours

It was on Granada that. Steve McCurries debut? or am I thinking of another game.

It's not closer. It's easier to get to. Apart from that, Steve O'Connor tols me and my lad to **** off at the Halifax play-off game in 2008 when we asked him why he was changing the match days from Sunday to Friday, so we ****** off. By the way, your Chairman had no interest in his home town rugby teal for 42 years so when it comes to glory hunting, we're not in the same league as him. Enjoy next Saturday. I'm sure I will!

Cheers mate! I watched them for 32 years so I hope they do well. Met a lot of nice people in Widnes down the years.

That's a fact. But I suppose all those years spent in the shadow of a town one third the size might have that effect. That and never, ever being World Club Champions after all this time!

Population almost 200,000 and with only four different faces!

He does seem like a decent guy but I wouldn't want him in the trenches with me,the amount of towels he throws in would mount to a pyramid.

But just think! I've seen Widnes more times than most Widnesians. That makes me more loyal to Widnes RLFC than most of you wannabe LFC/MUFC fakes!



That includes your Chairman by the way!

Not my Chairman Doc,he just happens to be the Chairman of the club I support.You know 'support' ,as in through thick and thin.

He happens to be part of the problem. A Widnes lad who preferred the nearest big football team rather than turn up when his home town team were struggling in the NFP. A bit like the majority of Widnes lads in fact except they'll only go as far as the nearest pub with a big screen to 'support' their team. Anyway, see you next week. By the way, has Widnes got a real ale pub yet apart from the Four Topped Oak? Or is a bottle of WKD the height of your nightlife?

Stupid old fart!

If a real ale pub is your idea of the "night life" then your not exactly at cutting edge of culture yourself.

Maybe you got told to off cos you were in danger of boring the man to death.

Not that you'd know about night life! As for boring O'Connor, it's possible because I was talking about rugby league at the time and that's not a game he seems to know too much about. Obviously!

Not sure what Widnes nightlife has got to do with a debate about yellow bellied 'fans' unfurling the white flag but you do seem to have a grudge against Steve O'Connor.What will you do when the Saints Chairman tells you to fook off?Hot foot it down the road to Wiggin?