Joel To Head Back Down Under

Salford City Reds have confirmed that Joel Caine will return Down Under a year before his contract was due to expire due to family commitments in Australia.

Football Director Steve Simms said “Joel has a few family problems and needs to head home for personal reasons. Obviously he had a year to go on his contract here but we feel it’s the right thing and it;s given us the opportunity to sign Kevin McGuinness.

“Joel’s had a great season and Salford fans haven’t seen the best of him. He got injured early in the campaign and it took him a while to get over that, but he’s done some good things.”

We’d obviously like to wish Joel well for the future back home in Australia and look forward to his remaining performances at the Reds.

Reds Hoping for Speedy Alker Recovery

Salford City Reds medical staff are confident skipper Malcolm Alker’s knee ligament damage is not as serious as first thought. Alker limped out of yesterday’s defeat at Wakefield, and it was feared he would miss the rest of the season.

However Steve Simms said: “The doctor’s have had a look and it’s probably not as bad as we first thought but he’s probably going to be out for a couple of weeks, we’re not sure. We’ve got to assess how it goes this week and take it from there.

“We’d love him to be back for the end of the season though and Malc is a tough lad as he’s showed already this season.”

City Reds Announce Robinson as Third Major Signing

Salford City Reds have completed a busy week in the transfer market by capturing Luke Robinson from Wigan Warriors for next season.

He joins former team-mate David Hodgson, signed on Wednesday. at The Willows along with Parramatta Eels’ centre Junior Langi as the Reds recruitment drive gets into full swing.

Robinson was loaned out to Castleford earlier in the season but was recalled by the Warriors when Adrian Lam was injured. The Reds have been seeking another scrum-half since Gavin Clinch announced his retirement at the end of the season.

Robinson said today: “Leaving Wigan, having been connected to the club since the age of 11, has been a big wrench, but the decision has been made easier because of Salford City Reds’ ambitious plans for the future both on and off the field.

“Having established themselves in Super League this season after promotion, there is an impressive team building programme underway of which I am proud and excited to be a key part of,” he continued.

Robinson revealed that Head Coach Karl Harrison was one of the reasons he signed for Salford: “Karl is a man for the future, as shown by his appointment as England coach, and the training and coaching structure in place here is impressive.

“Salford are about to enter a new era in a state of the art stadium and I am thrilled to be part of the ambitious plans for the re-emergence of the Club as a major force in the game.”

Luke has signed a two-year contract beginning next season after Wigan gave him permission to talk to Salford.

GB’s Hodgson Next to Join Reds

Salford City Reds have announced the capture of Wigan Warriors’ David Hodgson on a two year deal beginning at the start of the 2005 season.

The Warriors exciting and elusive winger, who can also play centre, was top try scorer for the club in 2003 with 20 touchdowns.

Hodgson has signed the deal at the end of a terrific 10 day period for the club where wins against St Helens and Widnes Vikings look to have secured their future in Super League. The City Reds also retained the services of popular Aussie Kevin McGuinness for three years and signed Junior Langi from Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

A member of David Waite’s GB set-up for the Test Series against Australia, Hodgson is one of the most highly rated British prospects in the game.

With representative Origin honours with Yorkshire in 2002 and 2003 the City Reds will be brimming with confidence that they have signed a future great for the club.

Football Director Steve Simms said: “It’s a done deal. We are looking forward to David coming on board next season.”

“He’s in the Great Britain set-up and he’s a quality, up and coming, young outside back – exactly the type of player we are looking for.”

Simms also told us that that might not be the end of the transfer activity this week: “Hopefully we can get a deal with the other player later in the week. If I can, then that’ll be well and good!”

David Hodgson mini profile
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 92.8 kg
DOB: 8th August 1981
Position: Wing
Place Of Birth: Hull
Previous Clubs: Halifax Blue Sox

U21s Finish Third After Regular Season

A defeat at home to the Huddersfield Giants snatched second spot from the young Reds but Steve Blakeley’s Under 21s still comfortably make the end of season play-off series.

Huddersfield were always on top and ran out comfortable 12-38 winners in the rearranged fixture. The game, due to be played in Yorkshire last Thursday had to be moved due to torrential rain and the teams must have thought they were in for another postponement as the heavens opened shortly before kick off. THe game went ahead though with Mark Stevens and Nathan McAvoy scoring the Reds only tries, while Tim Hartley bagged two goals.

The defeat pushes the City Reds into third while the Giants sneak the second spot that gives them a bye in the first round of the Grand Final playoffs.

Salford will now play 6th placed Oldham at The Willows on Thursday 19 at 19:30. So come along and cheer the lads in their quest for glory.

Reds Retain Staff Quality Award

SALFORD CITY REDS have successfully completed their Second ‘Investors In People Award” Review, proving that they still continue to meet the ever increasingly stringent standards and targets set.

Investors In People (IIP) is a national quality standard which sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation’s performance through its people.

Commitment – Commitment to invest in people to achieve business goals

Planning – Planning how skills, individuals and teams are to be developed to achieve these goals

Action – Taking action to develop and use necessary skills in a well defined and continuing programme directly tied to business objectives

Evaluating – Evaluating outcomes of training and development for individuals’ progress towards goals, the value achieved and future needs.

Salford City Reds have the honour of being the first ever professional sports club to achieve the Award back in March 1999 and to date only two others have made the grade – a professional rugby union club and a County cricket club.

Some of the benefits an organisation can expect from attaining the IIP award are:-

The opportunity to review current policies and practices against a recognised benchmark

A frame work for planning future strategy and action

A structured way to improve the effectiveness of training and development activities

Improved motivation through greater involvement, personal development and recognition of achievement, motivation is improved. This leads to higher morale, improved retention rates, reduced absenteeism, readier acceptance of change and identification with the organisation beyond the confines of the job

Investors In People Assessor Roger Langford said: “ We continually read in the press about the problems that professional sports clubs, and their governing bodies, are having in successfully competing for the public’s leisure time. Over the past Five years, Salford City Reds have shown that, by seeing themselves as an actual business and embracing the appropriate business processes, it is possible to successfully adjust yourself to cope with the rigours of a competitive market.

By embracing the ethos of Investors in People Salford City Reds have placed themselves in an ideal position to take advantage of the enormous opportunity that the new stadium offers. There are numerous examples of sports clubs who have struggled to realise the full potential of such development opportunities, simply because they did not have the robust infrastructure and effective processes that are necessary to meet the stringent criteria of the Investor in People standard. Having assessed the club on three occasions and watched their professional development I have no doubt that they will maximise their opportunities and look forward to their next assessment in the salubrious surrounds of their new stadium.”

Salford City Reds CEO David Tarry said: “I am delighted for the hardworking staff and management in place, who have once again demonstrated their total commitment and passion for this club. We operate our club with a professional business ethos, and that is what has kept this club together, and able to remain a viable Super League option without the higher levels of support enjoyed at other clubs. We will continue to grow and reshape our business as we evolve into the new stadium, the future for this club is exciting, as is the future of the individuals who have taken us there, to witness the sleeping giant awaken.”

Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of the Rugby Football League said: Congratulations are due to Salford City Reds for completing their second ‘Investors in People’ Review successfully. Salford were the first professional sports club to achieve the award in 1999 and it is encouraging that they have maintained that high level of commitment through to 2004″.

Time Running Out on Season Ticket Deal

Fans looking forward to another thrilling season of Super League at The Willows are reminded that they only have until November 30 to purchase their 2005 ticket at the reduced Early Bird rates.

With four games free if you take up the offer now, Reds’ fans have already been rushing to scoop the savings – we’ve sold more than double the amount of season tickets before October last season!

With key signings such as Luke Robinson, Junior Langi, David Hodgson, Ian Sibbit and Stuart Dickens all competing for places, Super League X should be a very exciting competition.

So take the plunge and ensure your you don’t miss a minute of the toughest sport on Earth next season.

Don’t forget your ticket also gets you in to see our exciting U18 and U21 sides and if you buy a junior ticket for the kids, it also includes vouchers to get them in at all other Super League grounds to see the Reds.

We also have an array of seating and family tickets which can all be purchased online or by filling in a form in the club shop.

Mercurial McGuinness Extends Stay

Australian star Kevin McGuinness has delighted the club by agreeing to extend his deal keeping him at The Willows for a further 3 years!

Originally the little playmaker, signed mid-season from Manly, was due to head home at the end of the season, but the news of the recapture of his signature will put a huge smile on the face of supporters, with whom he has become a firm favourite.

Having started off in the three-quarters, ‘Buddha’ has recently been switched to stand-off where he has made a huge impact, most noticeably during his devastating Man-of-the-Match performance against St Helens in Round 22.

His lightning pace and vision has had fans already talking about him becoming one of Salford’s best ever overseas captures and the announcement of the extension of his deal ices the cake on an amazing week for the club.

Football Director Steve Simms told us: “The McGuinness thing is done. He’s signed for three years and we’re delighted to have a player of Kevin’s calibre on board long-term.”

Reds Snap Up NRL Star Langi

Australian powerhouse three-quarter Junior Langi will be joining the club for the 2005 and 2006 Super League seasons the City Reds have announced this morning.

The Parramatta Eels winger/centre joins on a two-year deal and his signature signals the City Reds intent to improve further still after an impressive first season back in top flight under the guidance of England coach Karl Harrison

23-year-old Langi has represented Australia Schoolboys and New South Wales Under 19s and lists Melbourne Storm and St George as his previous clubs.

Langi has appeared 14 times for the Eels this season scoring twice and has career stats of 49 NRL starts scoring 8 tries.

Football Director Steve Simms was obviously delighted at this latest news on what has been a fantastic week for the City Reds. Simms said: “Junior gives us strength, power, experience in the outside backs. He’s a giant for a centre! He’s a young, enthusastic bloke who will add a lot to us.”

“He’s played for Melbourne, St George and Parramatta – three of the top clubs in the NRL and for such a young age he’s an experienced NRL player.”

Simms revealed the City Reds have been after Langi for some time: “We’ve been chasing him for a while actually and it’s come off. He’s told Paramatta he prefers to come to England and the deal’s been done!”

Junior Langi Profile

Position: Centre / Wing

Date of Birth: 2 August 1981

Weight: 16 Stone

Height: 6ft 3

Park Up And Ride In Comfort

Saturday night games at The Willows always cause a change in routine and this Saturday’s home fixture against Widnes Vikings is no exception.

Fans are urged to use the Metrolink Park & Ride scheme rather than attempting to park at or close to the ground as The Willows car park will not be available for match traffic (apart from Platinum Club and medical staff).

The car parking is reduced due to the volume of equipment used by Sky TV to broadcast the match and also because the car park is for use by patrons of The Willows Variety Centre.

Park and Ride is available at the Ladywell Metrolink stop and the price of your tram ticket can be discounted from your matchday entry when you purchase a ticket at the office and present your Metrolink ticket.

Thank you for your co-operation.

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