Salford City Council Continue Reds Backing

Salford City Reds are delighted to announce that Salford City Council are to continue their business partnership with the club for a third year, which will see the players once again wearing Salford’s famous logo and signature colour on the 2008 away playing strip.

After a successful partnership spanning two seasons the Reds will be reinforcing their link with their home city, and a striking new strip carrying the bold magenta strap line ‘IN Salford’ will be worn with pride by all the Reds’ players throughout the 2008 season on the alternate kit.

Salford City Council deputy leader and keen supporter of rugby league, Cllr David Lancaster, said: “Salford City Council is delighted to continue its partnership with Salford City Reds.

“We are very proud that the club bears the city’s name; this is why we are pleased to continue as a shirt sponsor.

“The club promotes a very positive image of the city and makes a great contribution to the city through its community scheme.

“The ‘IN Salford’ brand on players’ shirts raises our profile across the country and gives us great pride in our association with the club.”

As in the last two years the club have pledged that every child under 16 years of age who purchases a season ticket for 2008 will receive a free away replica shirt, which will be available in late November. The offer has now been extended to include all adults.*

Salford City Reds Chairman, John Wilkinson OBE, said, ‘We see forging great links with our Council as a must for Salford City Reds. They continue to be strongly behind us and support our move to Barton and we are delighted that, once again, we will carry their message on our playing kit next season.”

Reds’ Stars Stay Loyal

Salford City Reds can tonight confirm the intentions of club captain Malcolm Alker and Karl Fitzpatrick to stay with the Reds for next season and beyond.

The Reds are building a strong squad and will already include NRL signings Phil Leuluai and Craig Stapleton for the push back to Super League and the news will be a further boost for Head Coach Shaun McRae ahead of the new campaign.

Alker, who has been at the club for 12 years, will be leading the new-look Salford side out for the club’s final years at The Willows said: “It is an honour to have re-signed for this great club. I have been with them since turning professional and am extremely happy to be staying here. I am hoping they’ll be putting a bronze statue up of me before the season!”

Meanwhile, keeping hold of Karl Fitzpatrick will also be a huge added bonus for the Reds.

Chairman John Wilkinson, OBE said: “I am absolutely delighted Malcolm and Karl are staying, both have been with us for a number of years and my respect goes out to each of them.

“They both see the bigger picture, they realise the bright future of this club and want to be part of it.

“Malcolm and Karl are excellent players who can make an tremendous impact. We have to be considered for a franchise and it is so important that we are strong on and off the field.”

Salford City Reds Season Tickets are now available if you want to see the revamped Reds in action in 2008.

Northerners Show Rock Solid Support for Reds

In a week that has seen people queuing to withdraw their support from the countries great institutions, Salford City Reds have instead seen fans queuing to show their support for the club.

With the Reds offering a once in a lifetime deal for the 2008 season, every adult and junior supporter will receive an away replica shirt in conjunction with a season ticket purchase and demand is set to exceed all expectations.

Supporters, anxious to get the coveted first tickets for next season started to queue outside the shop in the early evening of Wednesday bracing themselves against the inclement Salford weather, but determined to be one of the first to get their hands on a season ticket when the doors opened at 9am this morning.

Hard core supporter and Forever Reds’ Chairperson Shirley Bradshaw said, “This is a fantastic offer and well worth queuing up for. How can Salford City Reds supporters turn down the best deal on offer in rugby league?”

With the Reds’ looking at retaining all their support from last season Marketing Manager Paul McNally commented: “All we have seen this week on the news is people lining up to take their money back, we’ve had people queuing to give us theirs.
“We knew we had to come up with an offer that was unbeatable in order to say thank you to our loyal supporters and it looks as though our true fans will once again be with us for next season’s ride.

Reds Set to Have Best Dressed Fans

Salford City Reds have announced an exciting new marketing strategy aimed at persuading fans to purchase their 2008 season tickets early.

For the past two years the club has given a free replica away shirt to all under 16-year-olds in conjunction with a season ticket purchase, but this season the Reds are set to push the deal out still further and give away a free replica away shirt to not only the juniors but to everybody buying an adult season ticket too.

Salford City Reds’ believe that no other sports club in the world has ever pulled off such a marketing coup and they are set to launch what they think is their best ever kit in November.

Reds’ Marketing Manager Paul McNally said, ”We’ve had to crunch a lot of numbers to make this offer viable but it is our intention to not only retain 100% of our existing season ticket holders, but to convince a lot of new fans to back us in 2008.

“We knew we had to come up with an offer that was unbeatable in order to achieve this and it will be fantastic to see so many fans wearing our colours at the games next year.”

The Reds have also unveiled offers for Senior Citizens and Student Season Ticket buyers with all Senior concessions being given a free upgrade to a seat and students getting a 25% discount off the price of a replica shirt.

Meanwhile fans introducing a friend to the club and persuading them to buy a season ticket will become inaugural members of the new ‘Captain’s Club’ and will receive an exclusive polo shirt bearing the legend ‘Respect, Loyalty, Courage, Support’ and a certificate of authenticity that will not be available to purchase.

Salford City Reds’ Season Tickets will be on sale from 9am Thursday 20 September and the replica shirt and season ticket booklets can be collected from mid-November.

Watch this space for futher information over the coming days

Juniors Give Korki the Thumbs Up

Salford’s Junior Reds voted rampaging Australian hard-man Michael Korkidas as their Player of the Year at last Monday’s kids’ night at The Willows.

The Junior Supporter’s were first treated to a rugby master class on the famous Willows turf with the club’s community coaches and the Reds’ first team squad as well as Cheerleading lessons from coaches from the Red Hot Flames.

As it went dark the children returned to the Variety Centre to present their award which was handed out by 10-year-old Gemma Wagstaffe.

Michael, who will be leaving the Reds after Friday ’s game said: “It is truly an honour to get this award and to know that the kids have enjoyed watching me. I have enjoyed my time here at Salford and I truly wish the club and everyone connected to it the very best for the future.”

Cebora on Board Once More

Salford City Reds are delighted to announce the continuation of Cebora S.p.A. of Bologna as an Associate Shirt Sponsor of the club for the 2008 season with the Cebora brand moved to the lower back of the playing shirt.

Cebora are one of the worlds largest manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment with a reputation for building high quality equipment, supported by continuous investment in research and development.

Represented exclusively in the UK and Eire by Club Chairman John Wilkinson OBE, through his company, Wilkinson Star Limited, John commented. ‘It gives me great pleasure to be able to continue our fantastic relationship with Cebora. Their brand has become synonymous with Salford City Reds over the years and we look forward to continue our partnership

Through the partnership with Salford City Reds, Cebora have become the most well known welding equipment manufacturer brand name in the country with their brand name appearing on the shirt since 1993.

GMG Continue Reds’ Deal

Continuing the Reds strong relationship with the Manchester Evening News and Channel M, both media partners will remain as Associate Main Sponsors of Salford City Reds for the 2008 season with the logos of both brands appearing on the sleeve and shorts of the kit.

Strengthening Salford City Reds’ profile across Greater Manchester the Manchester Evening News is the first port of call for supporters, looking for the latest news, hot off the press, both on and off the field.

CEO of Guardian Media Group’s Regional Media Division, Mark Dodson commented,’

‘We have always enjoyed an extremely strong relationship with The Salford City Reds’ and are extremely pleased to be able to continue our sponsorship at the club over the coming year. As the Voice of Manchester, both the M.E.N. and Channel m as part of M.E.N. Media pride themselves on bringing the best news sport and entertainment information from around the region every single day. Our sponsorship of The Reds’ reaffirms this position in our region’s heartland.’

The club is also delighted to announce that the popular code XIII programme will run for a third season with Channel M’s Head of Sport Andy Dickman, commenting, ‘For the last two years Channel M has enjoyed a great working relationship with the Salford City Reds, and we are delighted that this successful partnership is to continue into 2008.’

Dickman continued, ‘Code XIII is one of the most popular shows on our Channel m sports schedule, and will continue to remain dedicated to bringing Salford’s fans all the latest news from The Willows as well as exclusive interviews with staff and players and of course all the latest developments ahead of the club’s historic move to the City of Salford Stadium.’

The Reds’ association with such a widely recognised brand has been a great platform to promote its sport and community business and with the club’s transition into an iconic new stadium for the 2010 season, the club will ensure that both parties can achieve the maximum potential from a partnership that continues to go from strength to strength.
Director of Salford City Reds, Trish Goldsmith, said, ‘Mark Dodson and his team are not only very enthusiast business and media partners to the club – they are also very influential. Mark’s vast experience and knowledge is key to the development of our partnership. His personal and business values are faultless and we are very proud to continue our partnership into 2008.’

Robinson Leads the Way Out

Salford and England scrum-half Luke Robinson is among the first casualties of the Reds’ relegation from Super League, signing a three year deal with Huddersfield Giants.

Mike Wainwright has already signed with Leigh Centurions although Wainwright has only played three games for the Reds this season.

Andy Coley and Simon Finnigan are also expected to announce deals elsewhere in the very near future.

Reds 2007 Player of the Year Awards Night

Salford City Reds sponsors, fans, squad and backroom staff carried on regardless at The Willows on Monday Evening as they held their glittering annual Player of the Year awards ceremony.

Hosted by Sky Sports’ Eddie Hemmings the mood could have been sombre but it seems everybody has taken relegation on the chin and got on with things, despite the potentially awkward situation.

Chairman John Wilkinson, OBE spoke of his hopes and aspirations for next year and beyond, saying he expected the Reds to get a Super League licence for 2009 while new Head Coach Shaun McRae confirmed that building for the future had started today.

There was an air of disappointment among the playing squad with John Wilshere, who picked up two of the most prestigious awards, saying he didn’t feel like celebrating because of the situation they were in, but there was good news for Reds’ fans as several key stars all indicated they would like to stay at The Willows if it were possible under the tight NL1 salary cap restrictions.

Michael Korkidas thanked the fans for his Supporter’s Player of the Year award and wished everybody well for the future, saying he would never forget his time at the Reds.
In the junior ranks there were much deserved rewards for Stefan Ratchford and Andrew Ballard at U21 level, while Jordan Turner picked up the inaugural Young Player of the Year award.

The U18s were well represented with Leon Walker picking up his third award in two years while 16 year old Max Wiper received rapturous applause as he told Eddie how he travels to and from his home town of Barrow three times a week just for training.

Club Secretary Christine James was the most popular winner of the evening, collecting the Clubman of the Year award after 30 years at the club.

As ever it was a great night. The show must go on and Salford City Reds will be there through thick and thin. We thank everybody who attended for their loyal support.

Fans are reminded that the Player of the Year award for Junior Reds’ season ticket holders will be held at The Willows next Monday (7pm). Bring your season ticket along. Voting will be carried out via this website from Tuesday or via the form that will be arriving in the post shortly.
A full set of images of the night will appear here shortly.

2007 Highlights (Video)

The 2007 Video Highlights for posterity, courtesy of the team at Sky Sports.

Play Fanfare

 

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