Chairman Speaks About Stadium Progress

The Reds today utilised their usual pre-match press conference to speak about the progress on the new stadium development at Barton and the current situation with Salford City College. After the press conference we taped an exclusive interview with Reds’ Chairman, John Wilkinson, OBE to clarify things still further.

To see the full interview with John Wilkinson on RedPlanetTV, click the video link below.

June Stadium Update

Further to today’s scheduled meeting of the development team (Salford City Reds, City of Salford, Salford City College and Peel Holdings) regarding the proposed Reds’ stadium development, high on the agenda was the recent announcement that LSC investment has not been allocated to the project in this round of funding.

The outcome of the meeting was very positive, mapping out all of the options that the team now have available to them, to ensure the delivery of the stadium within the required time frames.

After the meeting, Peter Crompton, Principal of Salford City College said:
“LSC funding is not and never has been the only way of funding our interest in the stadium development.

“The college has other options available to it and these are continuing to be explored by the development team.

“We are very positive about our role in the development of this essential acquisition for the college, the people and the City of Salford.”

All partners in the development remain in a very positive mood despite the setbacks we have had to face from time to time.  Confidence in the delivery of the development within the timeframe remains high due to the quality and strength of the development team partners.
Reds’ Chairman, John Wilkinson said:

“We have the land, we have planning permission and we have a very supportive and highly qualified team working this project through and it will be delivered.

“The people of the City of Salford deserve a high quality stadium along with one of the best college facilities in the country, and that is what we will give them.

“We ask fans to continue to support and trust the club, in what is a highly complex development as we endeavour to deliver what is every fans dream.”

Contract Boost For Reds’ Foundation Stars

The level of play shown throughout the series of Foundation games that the Reds recently played has led to six players earning contracts with the Club, and bodes well for Pete Carey’s Academy team.

These young players are local lad Adam Files from Cadishead who played for Woolston and is an exciting hooker and very good running from dummy half, he is a Salford supporter and has always dreamed of playing for the Reds.

John Wilson is a loose forward or second row forward who played as an amateur with Adam at Woolston before a move to Ryland Sharks. John has played a very good level before within the RFL pathway playing at both Regional camps and carnivals.

Grant Hudson is another signed from Oldham St Annes this year and after spending 4 years at Warrington on their scholarship he came and looked re-energised in our Foundation, he is a strong running prop who like John has played at all levels in the North West regarding the RFL pathway.

Alex Davidson has had an outstanding season this year and was a bit of a coup when we attracted him to join our Foundation which has led to his signing. He has gained England Schoolboy honours this year against France and on top of that won the North West U16’s League title. He is joined by Blackbrook club team mate Andy Morris a big centre with lots of potential and the versatility to play other positions including full back and second row.

Then we have Callum Marriot, a very raw inexperienced back rower who has shined in the elite environment of Foundation. Callum comes from a good rugby background as his father many moons ago played with Salford Head of Youth Alan Hunte for B.A.R.L.A. and then against him when he played professionally for Rochdale, we are sure he would be very proud of his son were he with us know.

The final signing did not actually play in the Foundation squad but has been closely monitored by Performance Manager Chris Coop and the decision was made to contact Niall Evalds anyway a decision which was immediately justified when on debut last week for the Gillette Academy he scored a hat trick of tries and also set up other debutant Alex Davidson for a try. Niall is a quick skilful pivot and we hope he carries on the great form he has started with.

The Club wish all the players the best of luck with their new contracts and careers.

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Salford City Reds 10-34 Huddersfield Giants (eSL R18)

The Reds slipped to a heavy defeat at home to the Huddersfield Giants and missed the opportunity to record a league double over their West Yorkshire foes. Facing a 0-12 deficit after just six minutes things were always going to be difficult, but they made the Giants struggle for the win until the closing stages which will at least be some consolation.

Huddersfield head coach Nathan Brown felt his side turned in a solid performance at The Willows as they returned to winning ways with a 34-10 win over Salford.

To see the match highlights on RedPlanetTV, click the video link below.

The victory also saw the Giants, who came into the game on the back of narrow defeats to champions Leeds and Castleford, gain revenge for their 24-4 defeat at the Galpharm earlier in the season.

Six tries in all, including a brace from Leroy Cudjoe, and five conversions from six attempts from Brett Hodgson gave Huddersfield the win. Salford could only manage two scores through Jordan Turner and John Wilshere.

Of his side’s win, Brown said: “We did some parts okay. I didn’t think we were far from great but we came here to get a win up and we’d say we were okay.

“I’d say it was people in key positions that weren’t so good tonight so some other people in some other areas sort of rallied around and did some good stuff for us.”

The Giants improved their impressive record on the road to seven wins from nine with Friday night’s win, leaving Huddersfield chief Brown wishing his side could perform in a similar manner at home.

Asked if he could put his finger on what his side were doing right on the road he replied: “If I could I’d take it back to the Galpharm with the boys. I said before, last year when we won a few games away from home then and that has continued on which is good.”

Brown added: “We came here to get a win up and Salford have already got us once this year and have beaten other big names so to come here and get a win is pleasing.”

Salford coach Shaun McRae, who believes his side have a good opportunity to put some points on the board with seven of their 11 remaining fixtures to be played at The Willows, said: “They were just strong from the start. We needed to get a bit more possession and a bit more field position and it never happened.

“I thought they won a lot of those little battles we talk about.

“And it was going to be hard for us to get in to the game.

“But at 18-6 at half-time I was reasonably comfortable that we could improve on a few areas and threaten them.

“For a lot of the second half we didn’t threaten enough but we improved.

“The scoreline might not indicate that but I thought we were a bit better in the second half. It’s a disappointing result on the basis of a good week’s training. We trained really well this week and I didn’t see that performance in us.

“I thought they were very good, very clinical and very strong.”

Match Facts

Salford: Wilshere, Henry, Littler, Turner, Goulding, Ratchford, Smith, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Sidlow, Sibbit, Swain, Walton.
Replacements: Leuluai for Cashmere (26), Paul for Alker (28), Sidlow for Walton (28). Substitutes: Jewitt, Walton.

Huddersfield: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Wild, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Mason, Moore, D. Griffin, Fulton, Finnigan, Crabtree, Sculthorpe.
Replacements: Faiumu for Moore (30), P. Jackson for D. Griffin (19), Mossop for Crabtree (26), Mason for Sculthorpe (23).

Substitutes: Sculthorpe.

Ref: B Thaler (Wakefield)

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Alker: “Every Team Now Is Our Enemy”

Salford City Reds Captain Malcolm Alker believes that they must treat every opponent as their enemy if the Reds are to start collecting points in the remaining games this season and climb up the table.

“We’re in a position now where we have got to start picking up points and picking them up pretty soon. Every team now is our enemy if you like and we have to fight nail and tooth for every single point. We have a lot of home games left so it’s going to be good to get back to The Willows and have our fans behind us rather than having fans on our back all the time,” said Alker

We have found the formula that works. What we have to do now is be more consistent with that formula so we can begin to start climbing the table

“We are competing now, we have the hunger and we have found the formula that works. What we have to do now is be more consistent with that formula so we can begin to start climbing the table. We want to start that with two points on Friday to get the fans buzzed up.”

“You’re never perfectly happy because you have to keep striving but we’re relatively happy that we’re going in the right direction. The Club is still in a building process and not many people thought we would have five wins under our belt at this stage of the season,” he concluded.

To see the full interview with Malcolm Alker on RedPlanetTV, click the video link below.

Johnny Set For Landmark Appearance

Reds’ star Johnny Wilshere is set to pass a couple of milestones this weekend as he makes his 100th appearance for the club against Huddersfield Giants at The Willows on Friday evening (8pm).

Wilshere also needs to kick just two goals to reach 250 for the City Reds since he joined and made a try-scoring debut against Warrington Wolves back in 2006.

The Papua New Guinea Captain is best remembered around the city for his vital last minute penalty that tied last season’s Grand Final against the Celtic Crusaders, which the Reds then went on to win comfortably in extra-time.

“Without a doubt the Grand Final last season was the most memorable of the 100 games for me,” said Wilshere.

“As a player it is games like that that you play for, no matter what the level. They are the big moments in your career. Although that kick didn’t win us the game it put us in a position to go on and lift the trophy.”

And England fans may also have cause to thank the popular Wilshere too as he has been working with Richie Myler to improve the youngster’s kicking – the result of which was seen in Myler’s 30 point haul against the French for his country a fortnight ago.

“Richard’s put in heaps of practice to be fair to him and he really seems to have an eye for it. They say anybody can kick with practice but I’m not sure it’s a skill you’d want to try and teach our front rowers!”, he joked.

Reds Seek First Super League Double Scalp

Salford City Reds go into Friday’s engage Super League clash with Huddersfield Giants at The Willows seeking their first double of the season, following up on their tremendous win at The Galpharm Stadium last month.

Head Coach Shaun McRae keeps the same 19 man line up that narrowly lost at Hull FC last weekend but is hopeful Luke Adamson will return to the fray after recovering from an ankle injury picked up in training before the trip to the KC.

“Luke has been in tremendous form this season and is up there with the best defenders in the League. We missed his presence last week and hopefully his return will give us a good boost in the second row,” said McRae

Another of McRae’s starlets, Richie Myler could miss the chance to clock up his 50^th appearance for the club as he faces a late fitness test on a heel injury.

“Richard’s struggling a bit and we’ll have a look at him closer to the time. He’s been under a lot of pressure of late anyway but now his heel has flared up and causing him some discomfort,” he concluded.

John Wilshere meanwhile is set to make his 100^th appearance for the Club and needs just another two goals to clock up 250 for the City Reds.

Reds 19 Man Squad to face Huddersfield Giants:
Wilshere, Goulding, Henry, Smith, Myler, Sibbit, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Swain, Turner, Littler, Leuluai, Paul, Ratchford, Adamson, Jewitt, Walton, Sidlow

McRae Insists Myler’s Reds’ Future Remains In The Balance

Reds’ Head Coach Shaun McRae wants to hear it from the horse’s mouth that Reds and England star Richie Myler has turned down his contract offer to extend his stay at The Willows. McRae was keen to point out at the Reds’ pre-match press conference that all he had heard had come from the newspapers and as yet he has not been told anything official.

I’ve read that his advisor, Martin Offiah has said Richie has turned the deal down but I’m yet to hear it from the player himself.

“I’ve read that his advisor, Martin Offiah has said Richie has turned the deal down but I’m yet to hear it from the player himself. I think Richie and I have a good relationship and Richie knows my door is open and he can come and speak to me at any time.

“As far as I am concerned I am not even contemplating life without him as a Salford player because he is contracted here for the next 18 months. There are a lot of games in that period and that’s a lot of time to persuade him that his future lies here with us.

“I would not be doing my job correctly if I was not talking to him all the time and trying to get him to stay with us. Richie is a remarkable talent and he has achieved a lot in a short space of time, but he is still a boy and I am sure if this had happened to me at his age I would have been losing sleep over the decision.”

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