Reds Unveil 2007 Squad

Salford City Reds can today reveal the team squad numbers for the 2007 season.

With the exit of Andrew Dunemann to Canberra Raiders at the end of last season, fellow Aussie Luke Dorn steps into the number 6 position with great things expected from the speedy half back.

Another force to be reckoned with is former Wakefield Trinity prop forward Michael Korkidas who steps into the number 10 spot and with the recent departure of Junior Langi from the squad due to an eye condition, we welcome former Castleford Tigers threequarter, Gray Viane to the Reds.

Further new signings for next season include: Mark Edmondson, Stephen Nash, Danny Halliwell, Jordan Turner and Lee Jewitt.

2007 Squad

1 – Karl Fitzpatrick

2 – David Hodgson

3 – Kevin McGuinness

4 – Aaron Moule

5 – John Wilshere

6 – Luke Dorn

7 – Luke Robinson

8 – Andy Coley

9 – Malcolm Alker

10 – Michael Korkidas

11 – Mark Edmondson

12 – Ian Sibbit

13 – Simon Finnigan

14 – Paul Highton

15 – Gray Viane

16 – Andrew Brocklehurst

17 – Gareth Haggerty

18 – Luke Adamson

19 – Stuart Littler

20 – David Gower

21 – Stephen Nash

22 – Danny Halliwell

23 – Jordan Turner

24 – Lee Jewitt

25 – Daley Williams

Rhino’s Review

We sat our Media Manager Kate down with the big fella to get his final views on the year and whether he thought 2006 was exactly the tonic the club needed.

Rhino’s not often a man of many words but in this interview he gives us an insight of what we can expect to see from the Reds next season.

Thoughts on last season

Last season was a step in the right direction and I felt we were pretty solid throughout.
The season end was disappointing, but we have to look at 2006 overall, learn from it and aim to maintain our form.

Hopes for the new season

Next season will show the supporters a completely different Salford squad. We have lost the Baldwins and Charlies from the team and brought in younger and unproven players. I believe the combination of the fresh, perhaps less experienced players, working with the likes of Luke Dorn, Michael Korkidas and Mark Edmondson will give Salford a different style of play for next season.

Comments on a younger team

The stadium news was a great boost for Salford and I am now looking at building a team that will take us into that stadium. I have worked around my core players i.e. Alker, Highton, Coley and Littler and structured a team around them. These young lads will be around for the next few years and their experience will come from working with the fore mentioned players and the new signings we have for next season.

Which players should we be looking out for next season?

Luke Dorn and Michael Korkidas are both impressive. Dorn in particular is extremely knowledgeable about his game and has been showing some magic in training.
I’d actually like one or more of these young lads to make their mark next year and force their way into the 1st team on a regular basis.

Vice Captain

Vice captain for 2007 has not yet been decided. We’ll probably know that when we get back from pre season training in Florida and you’ll be the first to know.

Thoughts on the 2007 fixtures

The Easter period looks like being a challenge this year and playing Warrington, St Helens and Hull F.C. in the space of a week is going to be tough both mentally and physically.
Playing Warrington four times this season has baffles me. I was speaking to Paul Cullen only the other day and we still can’t quite work out how we come to meet on so many occasions.

Thoughts on Cardiff

Cardiff is a great concept and I hope the supporters take to it. It’s fallen very close to the away fixture in France so I guess many supporters are going to be torn between one or the other next season. Playing Warrington again for the Cardiff fixture should create the atmosphere of a derby match that we get at the Willows, but as with anything new we need to try it and see if it’s a success.

Message to Salford Supporters

Thanks for all your support in 2006. News of increased season tickets sales has reached us and we are absolutely delighted. Happy Christmas and New Year to all our supporters and we look forward to seeing you and hearing you in fine voice next season.

Keith Snape – Reds Lose One of Their Own

It is with great regret that Salford City Reds today announce the sad news that former Chairman and Director of the club, Keith Snape, passed away on the evening of Thursday 14 December.

Keith took his place as Chairman of Salford City Reds in 1978, succeeding his older brother Brian who retired the same year.  A director of the club since 1965 Keith was instrumental in overseeing the Official Centenary of Salford City Reds in 1979 during his time as chairman which he often described as one of his proudest moments.

Chairman of Salford City Reds, John Wilkinson OBE said, ‘I am deeply saddened by the news of Keith’s death.  It has come as a great shock.  Keith was club chairman for 4 years and a club director for many more.  He was an absolute gentleman who was committed to the club, well liked by players and supporters and will be sadly missed.  My condolences go out to the Snape family.’

Keith’s son Paul is the current Financial Director at The Willows.

Salford City Reds will show their respect with a minutes silence at the first game of the season.   The thoughts of all staff and players at the club are with the Snape family at this sad time.

Update from Trish Goldsmith

LATEST UPDATE

We are expecting delivery of shirts on Weds so hope to have them on sale on Thursday. We will also be opening late night (8pm) on Thursday and friday for sales and collection of free shirts. Saturday opening hours are 10-4pm.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE ID THE DELIVERY FAILS TO ARRIVE.

UPDATE FROM PATRICIA GOLDSMITH

I hope I find you all well and looking forward to Christmas.

It would be remiss of me not to personally give you an update on when we expect our replica shirts to arrive in stock.

I know a lot of you are getting anxious as you are waiting for the free shirt that came with your junior season ticket purchases – we know many of these are intended as Christmas presents. The latest update we have from our suppliers is that the shirts have been with Customs for nearly three weeks now, at Manchester Airport. We have been promised delivery by ISC l5/16 December. (a week on Friday). It is, therefore, our intention to have the shirts available for collection and sale on Saturday 16 or Sunday 17 December. A special collection area will be made available for any supporter who wishes to collect their shirt for the ‘introduce a friend’ promotion or the ‘Junior supporter promotion”.

Please believe me when I say that everyone at Salford City Reds and ISC are just as frustrated as you are with this delay, which has been caused by nothing more than red tape.

Our kit manufacturers ISC are working hard with their import agents and their factories to try and tie up the paperwork and get the shirts released as soon as possible.

I would like to apologise for the delay or inconvenience you may have been caused and give you our assurances that we are doing everything in our power to take delivery of your shirts in a prompt and efficient way.

On a more positive note. Our season ticket sale are extremely encouraging and approximately 25% of our season ticket holders are new for 2007. It is even more encouraging that a high number of our established season ticket holders have introduced a friend and will either receive a free replica shirt or a polo shirt with our compliments. The junior season ticket sales alongside our free shirt promotion has encouraged a great number of new junior supporters. Many of them enjoyed their Christmas Party with the players last week. Ten junior season ticket holders and their families won the opportunity to go to see Aladdin with the Chairman and Malcolm Alker at the Lowry on 19 December. We are all looking forward to a great night out with the kids.

Take care and I hope to see you all when you collect your shirt next weekend. Don’t forget our off-field and training gear is already in stock and watch out for our 12 days of Christmas merchandise promotions which we will be running over the next couple of weeks. May I wish you all, on behalf of Chairman and the Board, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Take care and God Bless

Best wishes,
Patricia Goldsmith
Director
Salford City Reds

Replica Shirts on Sale on Thursday

We are delighted to be able to tell Reds’ fans who took up the season ticket offer you that your Free Junior Away Shirt will be available for collection from 1pm this Thursday (12 December 2006). The Club Shop will be staying open late until 8pm on both Thursday 14 & Friday 15 December in order to make things as convenient as possible for you. We are also open 10am to 4pm on Saturday 16 December, and of course 9 to 5 Monday to Friday the following week all the way until 3pm on 23 December.

When you come in please ensure that you bring the Child’s Season Ticket book with you as we will need to remove the relevant voucher – unfortunately we cannot release the shirt without the voucher so please do not forget, as there will be no exceptions to this rule and we don’t want you to leave disappointed.

Adult shirts will also be available to purchase priced at £45

Make sure you also bring plenty of spare cash as this year’s clothing range is nothing short of spectacular – easily the best we have ever produced – and we’re sure when you see it you will want to buy, not just for yourself, but also as presents for the rest of the family. And of course you will also want a 2007 Home Shirt to compliment your free Away Shirt…

Finally, remember that all current Season Ticket holders can Introduce a Friend and also get a FREE AWAY SHIRT – given to anyone who signs up a friend or family member for a 2007 Season Ticket, and from Thursday you can walk away with it there and then!

We look forward to seeing you all soon.

*as with all things we are reliant on our suppliers so dates are subject to chnge, although we are very confident that this target will be met.

Replica Shirts on Sale

The Reds put their new 2007 home and away Supporter’s shirts on sale today (Thursday) and we able to announce a Christmas treat for fans with the news that both shirts would cost just £39.99 (adult) and £29.99 (Juniors) – five pounds cheaper than expected.

Reds’ Marketing Manager Paul NcNally said: “We’re very pleased with the supporter’s shirts this season. Our supplier ISC has come up with our best material to date and we want to thank our fans for waiting patiently so we’ve cut the price.

“The fact it’s our best quality shirt ever so we’ve brought the price down as we’re hoping for record sales . We fully intend to push our brand across as much as possible in the run up to the stadium move. ”

The Reds have already given a free shirt to any under 16 season ticket holder and fans are reminded that these can be picked up any time now.

This week’s shop opening hours are:
Thursday 9-8pm
Friday 9-8pm
Saturday 10-4pm

Help the Salfordian

Dear friend,

Salford City Reds and our chairman John Wilkinson OBE would like to ask you for a moment’s generosity at this festive time of year.

As many of you will know John is a trustee of The Salfordian Trust – the wonderful charity that allows people in the later year of their life to enjoy great holidays at this fantastic establishment.

Today a plaque was unveiled at the hotel commemorating the life of Bill Jones, OBE who worked tirelessly within the city for the Safordian and for Booths charities, who died 12 months ago today last Friday.

We are asking all our fans and business partners to donate just one pound to the Safordian during this run up to Christmas. With your help this worthy cause can go on helping the people of our great city to enjoy opportunities that are sometimes difficult to get elsewhere.

A collection box for donations can be found in the club shop or people wishing to pay by cheque can do so by sending their cheque to Trish Goldsmith, payable to The Salfordian to:-

Wilkinson Star
Shield drive
Wardley Industrial Estate
Walkden
Worsley
M28 2WD

We thank you for your support and would like to wish you all the very best for the festive season.

Reds Stars Aim to Get ‘Elfy’

Shoppers at Manchester’s Trafford Centre will be given a helping hand with the Christmas shopping this weekend courtesy of hunky Salford City Reds rugby players.

The players will be available between 11am and 1pm on Saturday 16 December to help carry bags to cars, wrap up some of those Christmas presents, and offer the ladies a quick kiss under the mistletoe!

Mark Edmondson, John Wilshere and Aaron Moule are just some of the players who will be getting into the festive spirit by becoming Santa’s little helpers – and will even be clad in Santa hats.

They will be positioned on the link bridge outside New Orleans next to The Orient entrance, and anyone looking for help carrying heavy shopping bags, a bit of present wrapping or just a kiss under the mistletoe can pay a visit.

The team will be raising money for ‘The New Children’s Hospital Appeal’

Viane in to Replace Langi

Salford City Reds have confirmed that former Widnes and Castleford Kiwi Gray Viane will join them for the 2007 season as a direct replacement for Junior Langi.

Langi is set to retire from rugby due to an eye illness and Viane will step into the breach with last season’s Super League surprise package for the forthcoming term.

A former Australian Schoolboy representative, although born in New Zealand, Viane first moved to the UK with Saints in 2004 having played for NRL side Wests Tigers.

He switched to Widnes part way through the 2005 season, scoring 13 tries for the Vikings in 20 appearances. He then became a popular figure in Castleford’s promoted side of last season, although his sterling efforts were not enough to keep the Tigers in the competition this time around.

Reds’ Director of Football Steve Simms said: “Junior has been a great asset to the Reds. We have reached a stage where his eyes are causing him problems and he will be returning home for treatment and we are resigned to the fact that we will lose him.”

“Gray is a great player who scores a lot of a tries and we see a great future for him at Salford. We’re lucky to have found a replacement of this calibre at this late stage.”

We are just finalising work permit details which we hope to clear up later this week.”

Everybody at the Reds wishes Junior all the very best for the future and he will be missed at the club.

Xmas Party Thank You

Salford City Reds would like to thank everybody who attended last week’s successful Junior Reds Christmas Party. Junior Seaston Ticket holders were treated to a great night of entertainment which included special guest appearances from Ignito and Santa.

Party games were the order the of the night and 10 lucky families all won VIP evenings to see Aladdin at The Lowry on 19 December.

The Junior Reds Christmas party is just another great reason to ensure that you get your kids a SCR season ticket as it gets them access to not only home and away Super League games but great evenst like these.

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