Friday v Sunday? Big decision for Salford Red Devils

As the 2013 draws to an end fans look forward to exciting times which will arrive at Barton in 2014.

With a host of new signings most of them international class Salford Red Devils will should be more competitive on the field and hopefully thrill the long suffering spectators. The big question is what day of the week will Salford play?

On the terrace fans are divided between Friday night rugby and Sunday rugby, with a recent poll conducted on a unofficial fans page both days only had a couple of percent between them.

Friday night is Rugby night?

There are lots of advantages to Friday night rugby league for Salford,  there is no chance of a clash with Manchester United or city so fans don't have to choose where they spend their cash.
Ask yourself do you have more money on you on a Friday afternoon for the weekend than you do on a Sunday for example. 

I suggest it may be easier to sell the clubs corporate facilities on a Friday to businesses in the area to treat staff or potential clients
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You also get more match related stories on a Saturday as no football has been played.

Playing on a Friday also means no school for kids on a Saturday so they could potentially sleep in and recover from the night before.

The players themselves may have a few extra days rest in between matches if one week they play Friday and the next Sunday, over the whole season if the fixtures run right could mean they have up to an extra week or more days than most to prepare for the next game.

Sizzling Sunday Rugby

Playing Sunday will allow the club to provide entertainment both before and after the game for the whole family to come down as a unit and enjoy.

We played a lot over the years on a Sunday many lapsed fans may find it easier to come back and support the Red devils on a weekly basis if they played on the same day they use to go.

The away support paticularly from Yorkshire should grow providing more money for the stadium people and the club.

People who enjoy a few beers with friends will probably have extended days out with as there would be no rush to go anywhere.

The good, The bad and the Ugly

Even tho there is positive aspects for both days there is also negatives.

Friday night rugby means late nights for young children so you limit the amount of future fans the club can pick up.

Traffic on a Friday is always heavy and with the rush hour early that day If a big crowd was expected would probably run into the back end of it.

People travelling from further afield both out of towns Reds and away support have travel plans limited due to time and work related issues

Playing Friday doesn't really allow the club to do much fans related exercises as its a rush to get to the ground and too late after.

Sundays will also be effected by traffic,  situated by the Trafford Centre one of the busiest shopping centres in the world our support joining the ques will effect the flow of traffic both entering and exiting the ground and the surrounding area.

The amount of traffic in the area I feel the supporters buses from Trafford Centre and eccles currently running at 1 every hour can see that going as the traffic will be too heavy on a Sunday.

Traffic may effect any away support as standing traffic heading to the Trafford Centre will certainly effect the amount of time it will take fans to get to the ground from the motorway as all the customers going shopping have to pass the Salford junction.

Also kickoff time will come into play when sale play on a Sunday its midday kickoff to avoid traffic would the supporters of Sunday like a midday kickoff?  Ill stick my neck out and say no salford fans would want that.

Sundays will also be effected by football lets say United or City were playing at 4pm against a title rival or against each other will our part time / fair weather / new fans drag themselves away from the pub and miss the game if Salford were against an average team like Wakefield I fear they wouldn't.

Decision time

Its a massive decision for Dr Marwan Koukash to make but in my own opinion Friday night rugby is the only way to go, you don't have other distractions which may effect attendance of people who will watch Salford "sometimes".

Whatever the Dr decides ill be there Friday or Sunday but ive already been converted its the potential fans he needs to 2nd guess
 

A thank you and the Red Revolution has started today

Well the day has finally arrived, today is the day us Salford fans get to know what Dr Marwan Koukash has planned for our great club.

It is only 10 months since one of its darkest days in Pendleton church when then chairman John Wilkinson delivered the heart breaking news to a couple of hundred Salford fans that the end was nigh. Without serious investment because of horrendous debts the club was finished.

Since that moment the fans dug in came together and showed unbelievable heart and will to show that Salford Rugby League club meant so much to so many.

Even tho people sweated blood, organising events, emptied savings accounts or just gave what they could it would all have been invain but for one man.

Today I would like to use my blog to thank Dr Marwan Koukash.
Not only for taking a chance on my Salford saving it from falling into an oblivion I would also like to thank him for putting the feel good factor back into supporting the club I have followed through thick, thin, and wafer.

Feel good factor

Since the good Dr took over he has been outstanding media and promotion wise.
All news stories were positive we made heads turn, spin and then fall off with rumoured bids and offers for players from all over the world.

People both inside the game and out have had to stand up and take notice about our plans somthing at Salford before the good Dr were unable or unwilling to do.

He promised star players, he said next season will be different and he would do everything in his power to turn the club round and without spoiling his surprises it seems he has delivered it with bells on.

The man himself is always approachable often seen on the terrace mingling with fans. It takes a special man to walk and talk with kings and paupers and treat them both the same and it looks to me the good Dr is that man.

With season tickets for the 2014 season and offers for the world cup also announced today many Reds who arnt already on cloud 9 will be with good noises being made about next seasons shirts arriving in time for Christmas

With all our rumoured signs to be confirmed soon we will have a idea what kind of force we might be next season.
Its far too early for bold predictions about what salford will do but to play safe ive booked off the challenge cup final weekend just in case ;-)

Red Devils returning

I would also like to thank the good Dr for embracing our history and adding the Red Devils to our name.

As Salford are the original Red Devils because of our exploits in france beating every opponent on the tour in 1934.

This happened years before Manchester United adopted it and Salford announcing their name change basically reclaiming it was a massive plus and was applauded from the roof tops.

"Sons and fathers sing this story....of the Salfords march to glory"

Well what a crazy season we have had both on and off the field, will be remembered for the most devastating lows in preseason to today which can only be described as massive and positive for the future.

Lets all move on together both club and fans and embark on this once in a life time adventure from where we are now to the very top of rugby league.

I don't think it will be easy there will be lots of swings and roundabouts on the way but lets enjoy the journey.