Reds Unveil Secure Car Park

Salford City Reds have secured an arrangement with the owners of Weaste Cricket Ground for an external company to provide and operate secure car parking for match days.

The cricket ground at the rear of the family stand has lay dormant for several years but will now provide much needed extra parking at The Willows for the 2007 engage Super League season.

Salford City Reds Chief Executive, David Tarry said, “This is a major step forward for the club as one of the biggest problems facing us is the availability of secure parking around the ground. We are sure this will make life a lot easier for our supporters on a match night and wish everyone involved in this venture well.”

The club is currently in the process of resolving issues of road access and access from the car park to the ground which it hopes to have in place by the start of Super League XII. It is also hoped that safe parking will attract more families to The Willows next season.

Further details regarding parking and car park prices will be made available early next year.

Reds Continue With Powerade

Salford City Reds players will continue to endorse the isotonic sports drink ‘Powerade’ for Super League XII after a successful first season in partnership.

The brand – owned by Coca Cola – will feature on the sleeve of the new shirt and the players will drink ‘Powerade’ while training, warm-up and during engage Super League matches.

Reds’ captain Malcolm Alker said: “During a Super League game it is vital we remain hydrated. Drinking ‘Powerade’ helps the team combat the huge physical drain on the body that a game of rugby league can take out on you.”

Powerade’ has been proven to enhance sporting performance, focus, endurance, energy, co-ordination, accuracy, motivation and reflexes and is available in four delicious flavours.

Club Director, Patricia Goldsmith said “We are delighted to have an international brand such as Powerade – owned by Coca Cola, associated with Salford City Reds. We are constantly looking for opportunities to expand our associations with sponsors of such repute, so we welcome Powerade back for a second season. ”

Reds In Line for GB Call Down Under

Its been a fantastic year so far for Salford City Reds Winger, David Hodgson, and Prop Forward Andy Coley and it looks like their luck is continuing as both players have been put on stand-by to travel to the Australia for the forthcoming Tri Nations in October.

The final selection of players in the stand-by squad to travel on Tuesday 10 October will depend on the number of players in the official squad who will play in the Grand Final on Saturday 14 October, so we’ll have to wait until then for confirmation

If chosen to travel with the squad David and Andy could potentially play in the warm up game against Newcastle on Friday 20 October.

Watch this space for further details!!

Alker Named ‘Tetley’s Legend’

Tetley’s search for the Salford City Reds Super League Legend has ended with Red hero Malcolm Alker receiving the majority vote from the Reds fans who voted in their masses for their current Captain.

Tetley’s, the official beer of the Salford City Reds, launched the competition earlier this season with fans given the option of voting for the player they think has excelled most over the past decade of Super League action.

Greats such as Stuart Littler, Steve Blakeley and Peter Edwards were short-listed but it was the fans-favourite, Alker, who came out on top.

Season Ticket holder Mike Whitby from Worsley was one of the fans who picked Malcolm as his Super League Legend and was lucky enough to present the man himself with a special trophy, as well as being given a crate of beer on behalf of Tetley’s.

Legend Alker, 27, said, “To be voted Tetley’s Super League Legend for the club is a fantastic honour and I am delighted to have received the award especially as there were so many great names competing with me. To receive this in my testimonial year is even more flattering, and I would like to thank the fans and Tetley’s for the award.”

Gareth Roberts, Sponsorship Controller Carlsberg UK, commented: “I would like to congratulate Malcolm on becoming the Tetley’s Reds Super League Legend. He thoroughly deserves the award for his performances in recent years, and has helped the Reds in a successful season this year. We wish Malcolm and the rest of the squad well for the remainder of the season.”

Super League Playoff Eliminator News

Well, it doesn’t get much bigger than our first ever Super League Play Off Eliminator.

The Reds roll into Bradford with a 1-1ratio this season, having being whacked at Odsal earlier in the season and snatching a narrow home victory in the summer.

Odsal is now Grattan and Karl Harrison’s men will be hoping there is a change of fortune at the famous old ground as it has not seen much happy hunting over the past, er thousand years.

Karl Fitzpatrick returns to the line-up and will add to the Reds attacking firepower and generally Harrison’s men look in good health.

The Reds have been selling tickets all week and have twice sold out of the tickets they received from the Bulls. 200 more tickets have been ordered and should be at the club by 6pm Friday. They have also sold out of all spaces on their subsidised travel.

Fans are advised they can pay on the gate at Bradford.

Bradford Bulls 18-man squad: Hape, Deacon, Vagana, Newton, I Harris, McKenna, Vainikolo, Lynch, Meyers, B Harris, Withers, Ferres, Johnson, Henderson, St Hilaire, Pryce, Burgess, Bai.

Salford City Reds 18-man squad: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, McGuinness, Moule, Dunemann, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Rutgerson, Finnigan, Charles, Highton, Wilshere, Haggerty, Littler, Brocklehurst, Adamson, Lima.

Referee: A Klein

Pitch Invasion Notice

The issue of pitch invasions was raised at a Rugby League Council meeting yesterday following the scenes at the end of last weekend’s Wakefield Trinity Wildcats versus Castleford Tigers game. Wakefield now face an RFL investigation and the possibility of a heavy fine.

Salford City Reds would like to remind all of our supporters that under no circumstances must anyone enter the playing area at any time before, during or after the game, and even though this is not a home game OUR club can and will face censure should our supporters misbehave. Any of our fans who choose to ignore this rule and are identified on one of the many cameras present at this fixture will find themselves banned next season with no exceptions.

This will be a historic day for Salford City Reds win and we’re sure that the Red Army’s behaviour will bring nothing but credit to our great club – let’s just make sure no one does anything to detract from the heroic efforts of the lads on the pitch this season.

Hodgson Makes Super League Dream Team

Salford City Reds star winger David Hodgson capped a wonderful week by being named in the engage Super League Dream Team for 2006.

Hodgson, who scooped three awards at the Reds’ prestigous Player of the Year Awards was named as one of the two wingers along with the Dragons’ Justin Murphy.

The Dream Team is chosen by a panel of Rugby League media who regularly cover the engage Super League competition and is based on form throughout the 28 Round Regular season.

David said: “It’s a great honour to be named among such illustrious company. I’m only as good as my team-mates so this is an honour for the whole team and show’s how far we have come this season.”

The full Dream Team for 2006 is:

1. Paul Wellens (St Helens) [2005]
2. Justin Murphy (Catalans Dragons) [Debut]
3.Jamie Lyon (St Helens) [2005]
4.Kirk Yeaman (Hull FC) [Debut]
5.David Hodgson (Salford City Reds) [Debut]
6.Danny McGuire (Leeds Rhinos) [2004]
7.Sean Long (St Helens) [2000]
8.Stuart Fielden (Wigan Warriors)[2000, 2002]
9.Keiron Cunningham (St Helens) [96, 2000, 01, 02, 05]
10.Danny Nutley (Castleford Tigers)[Debut]
11.Gareth Ellis (Leeds Rhinos)[2003]
12.Jon Wilkin (St Helens)[Debut]
13.Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) [2005]

To see the Dream Team interviewed on Super League TV click here

How do you feel about being a Dream Team player?
It’s not really hit home yet.  It’s quite an honour but having played for Salford with Malcolm Alker, I can’t believe he’s not on the Dream Team also.  Malc is one of the best hookers in the game and is always up there in the stats.  It is quite an honour to be considered for the Dream Team.

How do you feel about the season just gone?
The season’s not over for us yet as far as we are concerned.  Looking back we have achieved our goals set in Jacksonville in January this year, however we are just about to enter the next stage and there are a few more goals I’d like to complete.

How do you feel about the playoff are you hopeful that we will do well, how do you rate our chances?
I think we’re in with a good chance. Bradford are not playing at their best at the moment, but we still have a lot of things to put right after the Harlequins game.  There is a different attitude at training this week.  We realise we are now training for a play off eliminator and it seems to have boosted us.

What are you looking forward to most after the playoffs?
Hopefully being picked for Great Britain and if not, then playing for the England team.

How do you feel about next season do you think we can do any better than this year?
We have not really started to think that far ahead.  Our priority for now is the game on Saturday.  I think we will look back at what we have achieved this season in Florida in January then make plans for next season.

Which Salford player in your opinion has had the best season this year?
Simon Finnigan had an outstanding start to the season and was going well up until his injury.  I think that it has to be Andy Coley.  Andy has been consistent right throughout the season and has gone from strength to strength – he completely deserved the ‘Player of the Year’ award.

How do you feel about the new players that are coming to the club, who do you think will make the most impact?
I think we’ve got some great signings this year and I don’t think at this time I could pick one out for the most impact.  Each of them have all got their own strengths and will be good for Salford next year and I think that they will all fit in well here.

Which player out of the ones that have left will you miss the most?(if any)
None – didn’t like any of them!!!
No really I’ll miss them all.  We’ve always been a well gelled team and get on really well, the team are really good mates both on and off the field so they will all be missed.

Is their any team that you would not like to play against in the playoffs?
There isn’t one to be honest.  We’ve shown during the season that we can play against all the teams in Super League and hold our own.  I don’t see any reason why we should not be confident if we faced a Grand Final against Saints.

Who would you like to see promoted to super league?
Just purely for the fact that they have not been there before, it would be great to see Hull KR come up.

Many people may criticise you or your team throughout the season how do you not let that criticism get the better of you?
I just don’t let it affect me. Any player will know themselves that they have had a bad day and are probably their own worst critic.  Karl (Harrison) is also keen to let you know if you’ve not done particularly well and we always look at our performance on the video and work at improving.

Are you looking forward to going to Jacksonville for your pre-season training? Do you think it’s a worthwhile trip?
Jacksonville is a great trip and very worthwhile.  It’s a big initiation for new players that have joined us and we get a lot of training done with both morning and afternoon sessions.  It’s also good to be away from the usual schedule back home for a while and concentrate on our goals.

How do you feel about your awards that you won last Monday, particularly being voted Supporters P layer of the Year?
It feels great.  I felt alright in myself about my performance in the season I just had, but really did not expect to win anything.  There have been some outstanding performances on the field this season, so it means all the more to walk away with the ‘supporters Player of the Year’ award. Thanks to everyone who voted for me.

Has anyone ever made a comment to you that hurt you?
Not personally, although all the predictions made pre season had Salford finishing at the bottom of the table this year without a ball even being kicked which I found quite amusing.  If anything I think we owe our success this season to those that wrote us off.

Which team in Super League would you have liked to see go down?
Catalan Dragons – for no other reason than they finished bottom and should be relegated.

Which member of the coaching staff do you get the most from?
Probably Scott Naylor.  All the coaching staff are great and all have a lot of input into our performances, but I personally rate Scott as an ex-player and get a lot from working with him.

Both you and Malc have made the GB squad. How do you feel that players such as Andy Coley who perhaps also deserves a chance are left out?
Obviously it’s great for both myself and Malc to have made the squad but two players alone cannot get their team to the play offs.  Andy has been outstanding this year and it would have been amazing if more Salford players had been selected.  I still believe their time will come.

David Hodgson was talking exclusively to Jessica Cooper

Playoff Tickets and Travel

Salford City Reds will play Bradford Bulls away from home in their first ever appearance in the engage Super League playoffs.

The game will take place at the Gratton Stadium, Bradford, next Saturday evening at 6pm.

Salford City Reds is delighted to announce that subsidised match day travel will be availablefor the game. Coach travel will be available to all supporters for just £4 thanks to the generosity of our club sponsors who are meeting the majority of the cost to enable us to offer this service.

Tickets for both match and travel ON SALE NOW

SHOP OPEN
Mon – Thurs 9-5pm
Friday 9-8pm

Tickets will be taken off sale at 8pm Friday and returned to Bradford Bulls. No tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game (SATURDAY)

We are also pleased to announce that Salford City Reds season ticket holders are entitled to a £2 discount on match day admission prices, providing tickets are pre-purchased from The Willows Club Shop before 8pm on the day prior to the match.

To qualify for this discount you MUST bring your 2006 season ticket with you when you come to purchase your ticket – there will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule unfortunately – if you do not have the voucher we require in your book we regret that you will have to pay full admission price. Your season ticket entitles you to one ticket at the reduced price.

MATCH DAY PRICES FOR BRADFORD (Saturday 23 September @ Grattan Stadium, Bradford, 6pm KO TBC)

Ground Admission:
Adults £14 (Reds S/T Holders £12)
Concessions £7 (S/T Holders £5)
Juniors £7 (S/T Holders £5)

We’d like to urge as many Reds fans as possible to take up the opportunity to be there on such a historic occasion – remember, it’s the first time the club has ever qualified for the Super League playoffs, and the lads really deserve a big following to cheer them on, hopefully all the way to Old Trafford!

Any further updates will be posted here, so please check back regularly.

Korkidas Ready For Reds

Salford City Reds can confirm they expect to complete the signing of Wakefield Wildcats powerhouse Michael Korkidas early this week..

Reds’ Director of Football Steve Simms told us: “Everything should be finalised today with Michael’s agents. Michael is an outstanding player who will bring a new dimension to the team. He is a big hitter who will bolster our firepower upfront.”

Michael confirmed on Saturday he was leaving Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to join the Reds immediately after the relegation decider against Castleford.

The departure of the popular Korkidas, who is out of contract at Belle Vue, had been anticipated for some time but the heavyweight prop forward broke down in tears as his four-year stint came to an emotional end following the Wildcats’ thrilling 29-17 win over Castleford which preserve their Super League status.

“It’s hard to sum up in words how I feel,” he said. “I’ve been here for four years and the club’s been great to me.

“I’ve called this place home. I owe them the world. To pull on the jersey has been a great honour. I call my team-mates brothers. It’s hard to explain but you could see by the way I was after the game how much it meant to me.”

Korkidas, 25, who has made 115 appearances for Wakefield and has been one of only three ever-presents this year, says he was determined to help the club avoid relegation before he bowed out.

“I’m dreading coming back here to play them already. Rugby league is a funny game.”

Reds in Rugby League Exhibition

The Reds have been approached by the Manchester United Museum for help with a forthcoming rugby League exhibition to be held at Old Trafford. The exhibition will be staged at the museum in the month of October, around the Grand Final and feature memorabilia from all clubs who finish in the top six of the league table and heading into the play offs.

This is where your help comes in. We are looking for Salford City Reds Supporters to donate pieces they feel should be included in the exhibition. Anything specifically associated with the clubs appearances at Old Trafford would be a bonus, however all items will be gratefully accepted. We’ve heard a rumour around the office that Jimmy Lowes is donating a pair of boots!!

With the club looking forward to the new stadium, we are on the look out for items that we can store for future showpieces in the planned museum, so dig out any old shirts, photographs and unusual pieces of Reds memorabilia you have hanging around and pass it onto us. Those of you who wish items to be returned after the exhibition should ensure full contact details are attached to each piece.

For further information please contact Kate or Paul at the club on 0161 736 6564.

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