Its difficult to pin point a time when salford got me, Beating Keighley in the 2nd division final at Old Trafford, beating Wigan in the challenge cup, the challenge cup runs in the 97 98 season 2 challenge cup semifinals semi finals big crowds exciting rugby league, i started going home and away 99 1st game was hull away on a Wednesday night in the back of a van with no windows with a bloke called Steve we lost 18-12 it rained loads and Hudson Smith had a perfectly good try disallowed for a double movement. Stood behind the goal with 30 or so salford fans getting rained on i knew salford were the team for me.
It allowed me to live out some fantastic adventures all over Europe from scrapping with tramps in the back streets of Barcelona trying to steal my passport and every euro i owned to Karaoke in deepest darkest Yorkshire on a fun bus with some outstanding people, and with the cost of football it pushed me further into Salford City Reds, the people who I've met, became very good friends. my 2nd family in many ways enjoying the roller coaster ride of being a salford fan through thick, thin, thinner and wafer.
We have all got a bit older and some of us are not as "active" as we were once but i look back at the good times watching salford with a smile on my face thinking "those were the days" lots of heroic victories and epic days out, Pitch invasions against London in the cup in 2000 Warrington 2002, the NFP season and grand final 2003, Castleford away 2004, Catalan 2006 warrington Good Friday 6-24, Jonny Wilshire kicks for glory, Celtic in Bridgend 2008, The million Pound miricle i could go on forever and ever ..
The Shed and the willows was a special place, a place where i grew up and became a man surrounded by like minded individuals all as passionate as me about Salford the city and the team. The Shed was the heartbeat you could smell the testosterone the roar of the crowd the booming noise which floated across the willows pitch as the banners flapped in the wind at the back of the stand
Ive witness some fantastic individual players in the famous red jersey, Andrew Dunnerman, Gavin Clinch, Sean Rutchinson, Malcom Alker, David Hodgson ,Darren Brown and Steve Blakeley these players provided some magical moments while wearing the shirt on the field.
We have also had some great team efforts The Team Andy Gregory built that lead us to promotion and two Challenge cup semi finals had class and heart, the Harrison playoff team in 2006 never gave up with the Influence of Andrew Dunnerman gave us the magic when it was needed.
Ive watched Salford all over the Europe watched us win fantastic games and lose some epic encounters too, its the yo-yo in salford rugby which makes it worth it id hate if when we get successful we forget about where we came from and became a set of happy clapper foam finger waving jester hat wearing fans that the top teams have or gamble it all away chasing a vison that is unrealistic
So we moved to the AJ bell stadium and when Marwan Koukash took over our club we were at deaths door, after years of under investment the chickens had come home to roost and it was nearly time to bow out. The night in Pendleton Church was heart breaking when former chairman John Wilkinson laid bare the clubs difficulties it was so sad. Many people from that moment worked so hard to save the club. Or prayers were answered and Marwan arrived full of promise for a new beginning.
Its taken a few seasons, some big steep learning curves and a lot of money to get the balance right. The AJ Bell is a modern stadium which has allowed us to grow and offer facilities to fans and players we never had at The Willows. We are now Salford Red Devils which is a hat tip to our history and heritage, the club are involved in our local community clubs and schools building a future fanbase through the Junior Reds.
On the field Ian Watson has created a squad which has the quality to turn our club from nearly men to the real deal. Salford currently lie 3rd in the Super league which feels like a dream compaired to some of the senarios we have had to endure over the years.
I feel we are on the verge of something great, another great chapter for our club, a moment that Salford Red Devils rise to the top after years of banging around the bottom of the league. The city of Salford will benefit, investment will become available for a successful club, a club which is the jewel in the crown of the city. it will be a great time to be a Red.
Despite the clubs unhappiness about attendances and without a full scale, fully funded real life marketing strategy fact is they are up in 2017, the people of Salford are waking up to the fact that this is a special moment.
Fans are hungry again, the fear of a potential name change has spured many on to start promoting the Salford brand again to others in the local community, Time will tell if this is enough, will the club support the fans with this special effort by investing in it and try to take them to the next level?
Marwan the club is going in the right direction. There is no need to change course when your on the way to success.
Check out this weeks podcast for all your Salford Red Devils chat. We are joined by David Cambell (@willowsroad) to talk about his new idea of promoting Salford and getting fans involved in, Super leagues Tanya Arnold joins us to talk about salfords season so far we cover all the big stories including Justin Carney and the potential Manchester name change, Dobbo, Bibby and Johnson talk to us about the Widnes win as we preview the game v Wigan on Friday
