City Reds Announce Super League X Warm-Up Games

Salford City Reds will renew battle with the old enemy when they take on Swinton Lions at The Willows on January 2nd. The days of close, bruising top-level encounters may be gone but the encounters between the two teams from across the city still excite the fans even in this era of Super League.

Steve Simms said: “It will be a good warm-up for us. After Swinton we have two more pencilled in, one against Warrington and one against Wigan – one midweek and one weekend around the end of January / early February.”

Simms also confirmed that there are no new signings imminent and that the list of retained players for 2005 was still to be finalised: “There’s nothing at all yet on new faces and we’re still working on the retained list.”

Reds End Great Year With Presentation Party

Salford City Reds held their first Presentation Awards dinner at Sedgley Park on Friday 24 September with a brand new set of trophies being handed out for special achievements this season.

All three sides, including U18s and U21 were honoured with Coaches Alan Hunte and Steve Blakeley handing out awards to their Players of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.

The end of the night saw the players who had competed in this year’s Super League campaign take centre stage as Head Coach Karl Harrison handed out the awards in a ceremony hosted by Chairman John Wilkinson and Football Director Steve Simms.

First to be honoured as Most Improved Player was Karl Fitzpatrick. Simms said that Wasp had fought his way into to being an automatic choice in the matchday 17.

The Clubman of the Year award went to Jason Flowers, who is retiring from Super League. Jason has been at the club for two important seasons and his influence on and off the field will be sorely missed. An emotional Jason accepted his award saying he had never won anything in his life until he had come to Salford and he wished everybody the best for the future.

Jason made further trips up to the stage to receive a gift from Karl Harrison and a further award from Forever Reds.

Player’s Player of the Year went to skipper Malc Alker. Malc said he was surprised to have won the award and that he has played with some of the best players in Super League and he had been privileged to do so this season.

Coaches Player of the Year went to Chris Charles who also had a little trouble holding back the emotion. Harrison said he had signed somebody else to play in his position at the start of the season but Chris had made the spot his own with superb performances. Charlie explained that last season he had passed the ball to the opposition too many times last season and had improved this year after to listening to advice not to pass the ball at all!

Finally, their was huge appreciation for the Supporter’s Player of the Year, as voted for by readers of this website as lifelong supporter Paul Parkin handed over the trophy to Kevin McGuinness who could only make a short speech before emotion once more got the better of him.

Steve Simms told us afterwards: “We have a great bunch of people here. The players, their partners and the backroom staff. People outside of Salford City Reds don’t realise what’s going on here yet. But they will.”

There was also a huge cheer for Harrison too when he said: “I grew up watching the likes of Keith Fielding and David Watkins in the famous red jersey with the S on the breast. It’s my ambition to make Salford as great again as they once were.”

Watch out next week for the full roll of honour. Meanwhile, here are some pictures from the evening to enjoy.

Roll of Honour 2004 :

Super League
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Chris Charles
Players’ Player of the Year: Malcolm Alker
Supporter’s Player of the Year: Kevin McGuinness
Most Improved Player: Karl Fitzpatrick
Best Clubman: Jason Flowers

Under 21
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Dean Gorton
Players’ Player of the Year: Gareth Hayes

Under 18
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Sean O’Neill
Players’ Player of the Year: Stuart Waterworth

Young Reds Edge Closer to Glory

Junior Academy U’18 First Division Grand Final Series
- Qualifying Semi Final
Salford City Reds 28 London Broncos 0 H.T.10-0
T: Hartley 3, Forshaw, Adamson
G: Hartley 4

Tim Hartley’s eye for a try paid off both for him and the City Reds on Thursday evening, as he scored a brace of first half touchdowns against a big London side to take Salford through. The Broncos were a tremendous advertisement for their Club however, playing at pace and with volumes of enthusiasm, it being only the home side’s extra
steadiness, which kept the visitor’s side of the score-sheet blank in the opening half.

The second half saw Salford play steadily in the face of some strong running from the Broncos, but they weathered the storm well, Hartley again playing dominantly to complete his hat trick as well as land
four goals. The City Reds pack rose to the task well, with Damian Forshaw and Luke Adamson finding the stamina to cross for second half tries as well as to contribute to a determined defensive effort.

For the Broncos, their terrific season ended only just short of the final hurdle, but with half of the current side eligible to continue at Academy level next year, the groundwork is already starting to pay off. Certainly the London side has contributed in great measure to another fine Academy season all round.

THe Reds move onto their Grand Final Eliminator against the Huddersfield Giants on Oct 2 with Hunte’s men having won one and lost one against the Yorkshiremen so far this term.

Reds Offer Local Amateurs Cheap Season Ticket Deal

Once again, Salford City Reds is offering local amateur junior players the opportunity to obtain a Reds’ season ticket at a massively discounted rate!

Any player Under 16 years of age is eligible for a 40% discount on the recommended retail price of a 2005 junior season ticket.

The offer represents fantastic value for money, especially as the Season Ticket contains vouchers for use at away grounds as well!

In order to take advantage of this special offer, budding players should bring a completed season ticket application form along to the club with their BARLA photo ID card.

We regret that we will be unable to process any application that does not have the necessary official supporting documentation.

Reds’ Artefact Saved From Rubbish

A little piece of Salford City Reds’ history has been found discarded amongst a box of rubbish in a pub in Leigh! A representative honours cap belonging to one of the very first Salford City Reds greats, George Heath, has been handed in to the club for inclusion in a proposed museum to be housed in the Reds’ new stadium at Barton.

Media Manager, Carolyn Derbyshire explained, “Salford Advertiser got in touch to ask about this cap that had been forwarded to them. We scanned the archive to find out as much information as we could about “G.Heath”. He enjoyed a long and distinguished career with Salford, spanning 9 seasons, debuting in 1896 – the year of the start of the rebel breakaway Northern Union.”

“By the sounds of things, he was a real tough nut forward, who ran out in our famous colours 227 times, and scored 20 tries. He appeared in a number of Challenge Cup finals but sadly never earned a Winner’s medal. The cap we now have in our possession, was presented to him for representing Lancashire when they faced Yorkshire during season 1901-02. He made his last appearance for the club on 3 rd December 1904, and sadly, little is known about what happened to him after he left the sport.”

“We have amassed quite a treasure trove of memorabilia and artefacts now. Some items went on display to the public at Salford Museum and Art Gallery a few years ago, but it is very exciting to think that at some point in the not too distant future, all these items will have a permanent home and can be easily viewed by supporters.”

“We’re obviously always happy to receive donations of items such as this and would like to take this opportunity to thank our donors. If anyone does unearth anything which pertains to the history of the club, and wants to know more about the item, we’ll do our best to assist. It’d be a great tragedy to lose things like George’s cap, which is of significant historical importance to the club, simply because people aren’t aware of what they have in their possession.”

Farewall Game for Caine

Popular winger Joel Caine makes his farewell appearance for the Reds, before returning to Australia, against the Huddersfield Giants on Sunday (3pm)

Karl Harrison has second-rower Mark Shipway returning in place of the injured Andrew Brocklehurst, who damaged his shoulder in last week’s defeat by Hull

Neil Baynes is still troubled with a knee injury and also misses out.

The Reds, almost certainly guarenteed a 9th place finish will be looking to end what will be seen as a successful campaign on a high.

No Suspension for Coley

Salford City Reds are proudly displaying a set of seven new trophies that will be handed out to players at the end of each season to mark their achievements on the field of play. These include the new Supporters’ Player of the Year trophy, as voted for on this website.

Here we see Chairman John Wilkinson keeping a watchful eye over the new silverware. You can only begin to imagine the names that will grace these trophies over the coming seasons.

There are three trophies for Coaches Player of the Year (all three grades), three for Players’ Player of the Year (all three grades), and the large one on the left is awarded to the Supporters’ Player of the Year (Super League).

THe awards will be made at a special end-of-season dinner and we’ll very shortly be looking for a fan to make the presentation of Supporter’s Player of the Season. Watch this space.

Clinch To Be Honoured By Reds

The City Reds have confirmed that Gavin Clinch will be honoured by the club at a special half-time presentation at the final home game of the season on Sunday.

Clinch, who is retiring to take up coaching has been influential in Salford’s return, and subsequent Super League survival made possibly his final start for the club last week against the Tigers and the Reds feel it is important for Gavin’s departure to be specially marked.

Head Coach Karl Harrison labelled Gavin as a hero in the local press this week: “He’s probably among the best-ever signings at Salford and has been a wonderful player and a marvelous ambassador.

“He was recruited to bring the club into Super League and we persuaded him to stay on this year because we didn’t have a suitable replacement.

“He has again been truly outstanding. For a little man, he has such a big presence both on and off the field and we wish him well.

Everybody at the club wishes Gavin well in his future endeavours and would sincerely like to thank him for everything he has done for Salford City Reds.

U18s to play Hull KR in Playoffs

With the confirmation of Alan Hunte’s U18s third placed finish in the Junior Academy First Division, it has been announced that the young Reds will take on Hull KR at The Willows this Saturday (14.30).

Hunte has lead the lads magnificently all season and we would like to see as many fans as possible cheer the team to the next phase of the Grand Final playoffs.

These are the stars of the future so come along and show your appreciation. The junior sides have all performed magnificently this season and besides, the regular home season has finished now so you have no excuse!

Reds have ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ with Gower

The City Reds are closer than ever to snaring Kangaroo Test star Craig Gower.

Football Director Steve Simms told us: “We have a gentlemen’s agreement with Craig. We’ve spoken to Craig. We’ve spoken to his agent, and if he comes to England he’ll be playing with Salford.

“The trip to Australia was successful, I’m very happy with it, there are good players that will be available for 2006.”

Meanwhile Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart has angrily gone public recently about Simms’ bid to sign his players.

Simms retorted: “Ricky Stuart is concerned about Sydney Roosters. I’m concerned about Salford City Reds – they pay my wages, not the Roosters. If Ricky Stuart thinks a little about his career and what his agent did for him, and what he’s done as a coach to get players from other clubs when the time’s right then he probably wouldn’t be so quick to jump down on other people.

The Reds have been linked with several other high profile stars recently after Simms’ high-profile scouting mission in Sydney.

Meanwhile, the Reds are expected to complete the signing of Warrington’s Ian Sibbit in the next hour or two.

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