Salford 66 Swinton 4

Salford 1st home game of the season started well with a convincing win over neighbours Swinton Lions in the Alan Henning memorial match.

A strong 1st 40 minutes were produced by Salford with Gareth Hock and Kevin Locke scoring in the 1st 10 minutes to put Salford 12-0 up

Rangi Chase was inspirational throughout tormenting the Swinton defence scoring his 1st try of the game before feeding John Ford with a pass who found Gareth Hock in Support to score his 2nd.

Salford were dominating the play good work by Josh Griffin sent Niall Evans over to score and Salford were in total control.

Salford continued to create opportunities, Kevin Locke danced over for his second after 30 minutes.

John Ford impressed throughout the game got on the score sheet after great pass by Walne.

Rangi Chase got his 2nd try after good work by Jay Walton sent him clear

Half time came with Salford leading 42-0. Despite a less intense 2nd half Salford continued to make the scoreboard tick over.

Rangi Chase completed his hat trick after 55 minutes a great break by J Walton. Swinton hit back with a try of their own after 64 minutes. Good work outwide Shaun Robinson managed to touch down in the corner under pressure from the Salford defence.

Salford found their feet again, Tony Puliatia found Theo Fague In the 69 minute who slid over by the posts

Salford finished with a flourish in the final 10 minutes Rangi Chase scored his 4th against a Tiring defence, and the last move of the game saw George Griffin burst through the Swinton Defence to Send Puliatia over for the final Try

Josh Griffin kicked the last of nine conversions and Salford could then look forward to their final pre season friendly against Hunslet Hawks safe in the knowledge that it was a good run out ahead of the 2015 season.

Pre and post match activities to make it a better game day experience

So its off season and the fans panel are meeting up to discuss what we would like to see on a match day.

As its difficult in off season to find / contact any of the chosen 12 thought I would pen a few of my ideas down to throw in the mix.

What is good entertainment

I go to the match and want value for money, sport can bring you this but sometimes you need the package to be good to attract people who might be new
to the sport.

Personally I like the band playing before the game gives it a good atmosphere and appeals to everyone.

I would like the previous weeks game on some of the TVs / historical good games that Salford won.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages but this as well as perhaps special guests who played in the game we are watching or a non playing player to talk about todays game.

keeping the two pint jugs is a must, saves you going back to the bar when it's busy.

I would like team news to be read out in the bar before the game.

There is stuff the club do for kids before the game like throwing a ball through the targets, driving cars n bouncy castles and Foundation providing coaching for kids on the spare pitch touches all the bases for various aged kids.

The under 19s playing before the game on the spare pitch is a good idea and should continue imo.

We need a shop, temporary a table has done the job but with a whole off season behind us maybe a clothes mobile unit like the the one in the picture at the bottom of this blog.

To save money and to make sure our match day budget isnt indented to much maybe ask if of our sponsors would like to advertise on it.

Game day experience starts inside

Inside the stadium I feel we need more identity. I would like perhaps boards / murials with our famous players / time line for our club. In the south stand / west stand

They would be screwed to the walls just like our badge is when we play and swapped / taken down when Sale play.

You could get a local college / uni students to design it

You could get a sponsor to put their name to it and advertise on it, taking our costs down.

The example below is from warringtons south stand it can be done as you can see

Id keep the shed signs in the south stand.

I would make sure that our bar areas / cafe is full of stock and is staffed correctly with pumps that fill 4 pints in one go.

I would keep the beer sellers with the bacpacks keeps qs down.

I would like the tannoys to be turned down slightly before kickoff so the crowd could sing a bit but not make it cheesy by asking them to do it.

Bookies so people can bet, you can do this in other grounds so shud be no problem

Half time entertainment

Keep the kids playing at half time

Keep the cheerleaders

Mascot races with foundation

After game

Full match replay recorded using existing technology the club owns record 1st half on one disc brings it down to fans bar @ half time. Same for 2nd half.

Discounted beer till 1st try is scored on replay or drinks offers

Coach speaks / mom about the match.

Band playing again

Summery

Some ideas might cost some money some wont cost a penny im sure Marwan, Martin scallan and the other 11 people involved in this process will work with the club and the stadium management to improve the match day experience.

 

Harris starts with a win and possibly more to come.

The Iestyn Harris era at Salford Red Devils started with a bang on friday night with a 38-24 win away at Bradford.

Tries from Jake Mullaney, Tim Smith, Andrew Dixon, Junior Sau, Rangi Chase, Tony Puliatua and Francis Meli saw Salford Home.

I thought that the whole game we didn't look in any danger of losing the game which for Salford playing away anywhere never mind Bradford is a new experience. 
Its a good sign that the Harris coming in is having a positive effect and hopefully more to come.

Crutial period of the season approaching

Looking at the fixture list and the league table the next 5 games will be crutial on how Salfords season will develop.

The easter period is alway tough with the league shield winners last season and Leeds Rhinos away on the Monday Iestyn Harris and his men will need to be on their game and produce two very good performances to pick up the points.
After these two games Salford have a tough trip to Catalan, Hull KR and Widnes in the cup to test themselves.

With Salford back in the 8 and needing more wins to cement their place further up the table I predict a 3/5 wins and being through to the next round of the cup would be minimum requirement with the squad we have.

Devil in the Detail...A family affair

On this weeks show Patrick is joined by his younger brother to discuss what has happened at Bradford, the amateur roundup, preview the easter weekend and the look back at the news stories from the world of Salford Red Devils over the last 7 days.

With nearly 500 plays of last week's podcast our biggest total in one week and our 3rd Highest ever it has become a huge success.
Another success was my commentary on the official Red Devils app with over 900 people listening in against Bradford.

With the Android version of the app due out next week im sure both the podcast  and the people listening to the live commentary including this Friday against Huddersfield will continue to grow.

A Crazy week in the world of Salford Red Devils

Well what a week it has been last Thursday night we went to the KC Stadium in Hull and witnessed one of Salfords greatest Challenge Cup comebacks to reach the 5th Round and lot of Salford Fans were dreaming of a good cup run to hopefully push our season on to greater things.

Looking back at the game we looked dead and buried a couple of times in the game but though pure grit and determination and a willingness not to throw in the towel we got ourselves off the canvass thanks to a last minute try from Francis Meli and a absolute wonderful touchline conversion by Jake Mullaney.

The scenes of pure joy i witnessed from my commentary box while commentating on the Salford Red devils official app of Salford fans jumping around celebrating was something that will live with me forever, it meant so much to the fans to still have a taste of glory in Rugby leagues greatest cup competition  and you could tell that by the celebrations.
 Lets be honest if we were to pick a trophy to win it would be the challenge cup over the super league title every time.

So we made it into extra time and in my opinion held our nerve well, Hull never really put us under any real pressure and we had good field position and kicked very well.
One towering kick by our man Rangi Chase was spilled by a hull defender, from the scrum Salford carmly played position football and allowed Rangi Chase who had been wonderful all night to kick Salford into the next round.

So 5 coaches of Salford Fans went home happy little did they know the drama was only just begining.

Stood at the Crossroads wondering which way to go

So Friday came Salford fans were still day dreaming of events of the previous night when news broke that Dr Koukash had ask Brain Noble to step down as coach of Salford Red Devils and take up a role of Director of Football at the club and his coaching duties would now be undertaken by Iestin Harris.

People say that following Salford is a rollercoaster ride, excitment to the very end with a blend of joy and despair chucked in to keep even the most level headed Salford fan in a constant tail spin, this week has been no different.

There are pros and cons to the decision that the Good Doctor has made regarding our change in our coaching deparment.

me, Patrick and Shirley Bradshaw Forever Reds chairperson will discuss it in detail on this weeks DEVIL IN THE DETAIL podcast out later today.
So tune in and listen to what we think and see if you agree

Wrong numbers in the cup

 Salford made it though to the next round of the cup and our coaching restrucring taking place most Salford fans thought the drama had ended there...they were wrong.
During the challenge cup Draw for the next round Leeds Rhinos Legend and Rugby league pundit Garry Schofield managed to confuse the number 9 ball with the number 6 ball.

Salfords name had already succesfully been pulled out of the hat as the home team but with the error highlighed on social media that the wrong team had been drawn away to the Red Devils.
The team who salford should have been drawn against at home was Bradford but as Widnes Vikings had been called out after a bit of confusion after the draw it was decided that the draw should stand.

Realistically we should be looking to beat both of them teams at home so in my opinion to ask for the draw to be redrawn and run the risk of pulling Leeds or St Helens out was too great.

I suspect if we had been drawn against Wigan and it should have been Bradford i think it would have been a different result.

Back for good

I just want to say sorry i have not blogged much recently, i have been busy co-hosting The Devil in the Detail podcast with Patrick Noone, so far it has been an amazing experience and with now 14 shows in the can its great that it has become a fixture in so many peoples weekly routine.

With over 5000 Listens, nearly 300 followers on twitter (@ditdsrd) and approaching 250 followers on Facebook (Devil in the Detail SRD) so far i would like to thank you for supporting it and listening, me, Patrick, Mark and Paul with continue to make it the best podcast it can be.
 

2014 The year of the Red Devil?

So a wave of optimism has engulfed the terraces of the A J Bell stadium, Dr Marwan Koukash has backed up his early promises of a exciting team packed with international stars to bring success to a success starved club Salford Red Devils.

With local hero Adrian Morley on board as captain, a mix of  English international power and skill provided by Messrs  Rangi Chase and Gareth Hock. The Master tactician Tim Smith pulling the strings and local lad Harrison Hanson returning to his home town club from Wigan Warriors it might just prove to be the exciting season the Doctors has promised.

There is also a unknown quality about players which have been recruited  for the coming season.

Jake Mullaney the young goal kicking Australian fullback may turn a few heads, Lami Tasi a powerful samoan front row forward will provide power and size to a already huge pack and Greg Johnson a flying try scoring winger from Batley must be licking his lips with the amount of opportunities which will come his way.

After the last 2 friendly games and the performances produced its fair to say that the promises of a top 4 to 6 finish might not be too far away if the players are to gel.

I predict that Salford without any major injury crisis will comfortably make the top 8 pushing for a top 6 spot.
In playoff football anything can happen and with the class in Salfords ranks I can see a trip to Wembley may be on the cards.

Is Doctor Marwan Koukash on a one man mission to save Rugby league?

A Doctor is duty bound to save a dying patient,  Dr Marwan Koukash has a doctorate in Electronics not medican but his values remain the same.

This week during Salford pre season launch at the Lowry the good Doctor went on the attack against the RFL and tour apart their handling of the recent league structuring, salary cap issues, giving steve Mcnamara's a new contract and the new television deal.

Listening to him pick the bones of each of these subjects was a master class, he wants the best for the sport and has the ideas, vision and communication skills to relay this to anyone who will listen.

His tactics do rub some opposition fans up the wrong way but ask yourself this is what he is saying right? Behind all the bravado and headline making his points are water tight and should be listened too and respected.

His RFL bashing and Salford red Devils promoting has got the club headlines in the national newspapers which can only be good.

More power to your elbow Marwan keep up the good work.

The Devil is always in the detail

Recently ive had the opportunity to help produce a new podcast radio show called Devil In The detail.

Its a independent fan run podcast where we talk about all things Salford Red Devils and interview players about what is going on in the world of Salford Rugby.

So far the positive comments we have received about the show have blown me away and I would like to thank everyone who has listened in.  Me and the rest of the Devil In The detail team will continue to try our best with your help to produce a show that you will continue to enjoy.

Find us on Twitter @ditdsrd and Facebook Devil in the Detail SRD
A list of our previous shows can be accessed using the link below

http://m.soundcloud.com/devil-in-the-detail-srd/tracks

Hell to heaven in 12 months as Harrison Hanson arrives

1 year ago today I sat in Pendleton church with a lot of salford fans listening to then chairman John Wilkinson deliver the most horrific news that the club I have followed for 20 years man and boy was broken and were about to go out of business unless a buyer could be found.

Fast forward 12 months to the present day and we now stand on the edge of something potentially huge. 

I follow a club that has ambitions, that can attract world class players who hopefully with the investment behind the scenes can take us to the next level and beyond and a owner who so far hasn't put a foot wrong and put his money where his mouth is regarding player recruitment and expanding the game in the city.

I don't think I will get drunk on any success which may or may not come our way in the future and forget where we came from as a club a plucky under dog who sometimes got its day.

It now looks like we might be one of the top dogs, a dog that finally after years of toil, frustration and missing out on the big day might get ita place on the top table.

With the signing of local lad come good Harrison Hanson from wigan and such a long contract covering his peak years must send message to the people of Salford and other clubs in rugby league that Salford Red Devils finally mean business.

Im urging any of you who like sport in the city of Salford and Manchester to back your local team this is our moment I would hate for you to miss out on the greatest show in town.

Thanks for reading ill leave you with this thought IF Salford somehow manage to lift a Challenge cup or super league trophy in the next few years they will surely make a box office film of our journey from Rags to richest surely you would want to be an extra in it??

The story of 2013 and looking forward to 2014

As the succesful Rugby League World Cup brings down the curtain on a long season of Rugby League us Salford Red Devils fans can look back at a very eventful season.

The story so far...

The whole story read back sounds like a roller coaster of a thriller movie.  The dooms day scenario in January, Dr Marwan Koukash arriving saving the club, making headlines both on and off the field from the "wow" comback against Hull KR, beating Huddersfield on good Friday to off field celebrations at the magic weekend when beating Widnes.

There has also been negative points which made headlines from having 14 men on the field v Castleford in the dying minutes causing us to losing the 2 points, Warrington players being hit by a plastic bottles during their celebrations and eventually finishing bottom of the pile in 2013.

Like all good movies the end inspires you to think that the best is yet to come in a sequal with Dr Koukash embracing our history with the " Red Devils" name change, bringing home prodigal son Adrian Morley and also signing current International players for the 2014 season like Rangi Chase and Gaz Hock.

The club should be congratulated on their recent visits to different parts of the city to drum up new support.

This seems to have had a positive effect with record breaking season ticket / merchandise sales both online and in the new club shop during a recent open day held at the stadium.  

The stadium now equipped with a new state of the art gym for the players, a players room where team meetings can be held and a museum where objects from Salfords rich history can be viewed is a massive step forward.

The amazing plans for part of pre season training in the new year to be in South Africa shows how far the club has come in such a small amount of time.

I would like to thank all the players and staff at Salford Red Devils both on and off the field who gave their all in the 2013 season in such trying circumstances. Im sure that the 2014 season will be a totally different and positive experience for you.

The sound of success from a sound cloud

With all the positive stuff going on with Salford Red Devils over the last few weeks I got the opportunity to be involved in a new independent podcast about Salford Red Devils called "Devil in the detail" with Patrick Noone interviewing players and basically chewing the fat about all things Salford.

The link to the show can be seen below feel free to have a listen

https://m.soundcloud.com/devil-in-the-detail-srd/devil-in-the-detail-pilot

It was a very enjoyable experience and with positive feedback from listeners I look forward to further shows in the new year starting in January.

The future is bright, The future is Red

With the off season in full swing old salford would have gone into hibernation a long time ago waking up 2nd week in February.
The new "Super Salford" couldn't be any different when making headlines from Dr Koukash appearing on New Zealands top radio station promoting Salford / dropping hints we might be in with a chance of getting Sonny Bill Williams in a red shirt in the near future.

A possible cross code game against Sale sharks (which deserves a whole seperate blog on the positives and negatives of such a event happening and will get written) and rumours we are on the verge of signing Harrison Hanson son of Salford cult hero Shane Hanson from Wigan.
I have been dreaming for this kind of publicity all my salford supporting life.

Its such a breath of fresh air creating positivity around the club and on the terrace which can only be a good thing.

Happy Christmas and a Red New year

As this will be my last blog for 2013 I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and thanks for reading.