Premiership II plans announced

Camquin wrote: Rams move seems more about growing the wider club, with more pitches for mini and youth, than just about improving the first team facilities. Apparently they have a waiting list to join the mini and youth, as they do not have space for them. Wikipedia gives the following figures. They are as accurate as anything on that site. 25,000 seats -------------- Darlington 5,000 capacity and  > 1,000 seats -------------------------------------- Coventry Bedford Doncaster Plymouth Birmingham 5,000 Capacity  < 1,000 seats ---------------------------------- Guernsey Camborne Fylde Otley Preston Several sides are just below 5,000.

I doubt Otley would come anywhere near to obtaining a safety certificate for anything like 5000. I visited last year and yes they've got a wooden stand (fire risk) but the rest is just crumbling terracing overrun with weeds and shrubs poking through - I played there the week after the North beat the All Blacks way back and it doesn't look to have changed one jot. It doesn't look to have had any money spent on it in the last 25 years (but why would you if hoping to move to a new ground?) No offence or disrespect to Otley intended - great club!! 

You forgot Wakefield.

Coventry have slightly under 3,000 seats (circa 2,850)

Waterloo?  FFS  They currently play at level SIX!  Doubt that they have had a crowd of over 1000 for MANY years

FHLH wrote: seagoon wrote: Waterloo?  FFS  They currently play at level SIX!  Doubt that they have had a crowd of over 1000 for MANY years  I thought that we were wanting a meritocracy, not dragging up clubs from 4 levels below the Championship   I was trying to demonstrate the foolishness of using the term "brand"

clieves wrote: NeverbeentoChinnor wrote: clieves wrote: Wikipedia has Waterloo at 9000, although I'd imagine 6000 is nearer the mark, approx 400 seats Waterloo was in my head this morning when thinking of North-West clubs with a decent crowd capacity. I was there (I'm not Max) when they beat the Barbarians in their centenary year in the early 80s beating a team that had Graham Mourie and Murray Mexted in the back row. Big Jim Syddall was playing for Waterloo along with Alan Simpson at fly-half.  What a night that was, to beat the Barbarians! I was one of the youngsters waiting tables at the post  match dinner. Yes, it was great to watch particularly as Alan had lived opposite me in College Halls. Couldn't kick but his double dummy scissors was a thing of beauty honed at Cowley school.  And Wasps lost their centenary match against the Baa-Baas so they are definitley a lower brand than Waterloo.

Edited by NeverbeentoChinnor - 17 Jan 2024 at 20:32

Cherub wrote: Is it not a good idea to put down in writing a template of what the Championship sides want going forward. I can start things off. Please feel free to add some ideas, mock my suggestions, and suggest amendments, but let's see if we can build up a blueprint. I am assuming the premiership will remain a ten club outfit. I am suggesting the Championship becomes a 14 team league, with the top three teams from National League One joining in. TEAMS 1.     Ealing Trailfinders 2.     Coventry 3.     Bedford 4.     Doncaster 5.     Cornish Pirates 6.     Hartpury College 7.     Ampthill 8.     Caldy 9.     Cambridge 10.     London Scottish 11.     Nottingham 12.     Chinnor 13.     Rams 14.     Plymouth Albion PROMOTION AND RELEGATION •     There will be no play offs. •     The team who finishes top of the Championship will be promoted to the Premiership, swapping places with the bottom team in the Premiership. •     The team who finishes top of the Championship must have a ground capacity of 5,001 plus. •     The two teams who finish bottom in the Championship will be relegated and replaced by the top two sides in National League One. SQUADS •     The squads for each Championship side cannot exceed 35. •     Full details of the squad must be submitted one week before the first game of the season. •     The introduction of a transfer window in January every year. FUNDING •     The RFU will fund each club with a minimum of £500,000 per annum. •     A TV contract will be agreed to show live Championship matches with the monies being split equally between all the Championship sides. Just a bit of fun really with a serious hidden side.

Give this man Sweeney's job!

Paul10 wrote: I think it's football that is the exception. No other sport has promotions and relegations to the same extent. Plenty of sports thrive without.

Richard Lowther wrote:   Rugby League has leagues - but has raised the drawbridge for their top level.

Edited by billesleyexile - 17 Jan 2024 at 16:20