Those of us supporting C-graded clubs, have a tendency to examine each other critically, I know. However, the severity of Rovers' situation has been massively exaggerated by Hull fans, sometimes mischievously, sometimes from a combination of genuine disappointment and ignorance. I'm not saying everything is completely rosy, but unless Salford, Cas and Wakey all get a big shift on with their new stadia and the Crusaders new incarnation matches up to your hopes and we fail to get our new stand built then we'll be okay. Unless, of course, the money from our backers unexpectedly and suddenly dries up - but that is true for all but about 3 clubs. Even then, we'd only have to offload 3 or 4 big earners to get to break even.
The good thing from a Crusaders point of view is you have your fate pretty much in your own hands - but it is difficult to judge just how big the challenge is at the moment.

crucrucrusaders wrote:The set up is a lot more secure than the situation under Samuel. The squad, on paper at least, looks improved on the one we had last season with recruitment still happening. The ground is miles better than we have had previously also. Staff numbers are higher and things from ticket sales to club shop have improved ten fold. Last season we were run like a part time union club. This year thanks to the link between the football and league club this has improved beyind recognition. For example last year we had to ring between the hours of 10am and 2pm weekdays to buy match tickets. Now we have this site which we can actually hand pick our seats and purchase them there and then. http://www.ticketlord.com/wrexham.htm I expect merchandise to be much the same. This is better than many Super League clubs have in place. For me that is moving forwards. With Hull KR, Wakefield etc having problems of their own I think we are in as good a position as a few other clubs to get the license next time round. The big factor will be getting people through the gate. People didn't support the club in any great number down here so it can't get much worse so I'm hopeful we can match or surpass last seasons crowd levels. Having been down to your new ground last week and had a quick look around you must now have the 5 best ground in Super League. And with the coaching set up you have the club can only go upwards. If Noble gets the backing he will need he will put in all the building blocks to put the club on a very good footing for years to come. The only down side i could see was the lack of replica shirts or other clothing. I did however purchase tickets for the Leeds game and once i have been inside the ground to watch a game i will decide where i want to sit when i buy my season ticket. As most of the home games do not coincide with Wigan games and that means 2 live rugby games a week for me this season. As you say the only way is Up for the club just hope they get some shirts in soon.

crucrucrusaders wrote:The set up is a lot more secure than the situation under Samuel. The squad, on paper at least, looks improved on the one we had last season with recruitment still happening. The ground is miles better than we have had previously also. Staff numbers are higher and things from ticket sales to club shop have improved ten fold. Last season we were run like a part time union club. This year thanks to the link between the football and league club this has improved beyind recognition. For example last year we had to ring between the hours of 10am and 2pm weekdays to buy match tickets. Now we have this site which we can actually hand pick our seats and purchase them there and then. http://www.ticketlord.com/wrexham.htm I expect merchandise to be much the same. This is better than many Super League clubs have in place. For me that is moving forwards. With Hull KR, Wakefield etc having problems of their own I think we are in as good a position as a few other clubs to get the license next time round. The big factor will be getting people through the gate. People didn't support the club in any great number down here so it can't get much worse so I'm hopeful we can match or surpass last seasons crowd levels. Having been down to your new ground last week and had a quick look around you must now have the 5 best ground in Super League. And with the coaching set up you have the club can only go upwards. If Noble gets the backing he will need he will put in all the building blocks to put the club on a very good footing for years to come. The only down side i could see was the lack of replica shirts or other clothing. I did however purchase tickets for the Leeds game and once i have been inside the ground to watch a game i will decide where i want to sit when i buy my season ticket. As most of the home games do not coincide with Wigan games and that means 2 live rugby games a week for me this season. As you say the only way is Up for the club just hope they get some shirts in soon.

Do you have 4,000 mates you can get to go with you

Why do you need some support when we come to visit

Support will build in time its not an overnight thing is it

1 st of all Andy I'm a leigh fan

Sorry but overnight is what is required here , time is not an option

Oh sorry i did not realize you were a fan of the second team in Wigan

I think you will find support will build and its not the expansion you should be against its the RFL not having the bottle to remove a Super League team in the last round of licenses.

And if your team had been in Super League and played like last year you would have not won a game. Also the RFL saved you from being in Championship 1 this season because Gateshead had problems so Leigh should not have any gripe with the Curusaders being in Super League.

Having a team in Wales can only do the game good and bring in more Uk talent to League. And you must also see the RFL saved London on more than 1 occasion so a team in Wales has to be given at least 6 years. Just look how well Catalan did at the end of there first 3 years time is one thing a fledgling club should be given.

By the way thanks for the Bricks for Wigan civic Centre in the 70s

If that was the case, they should have stayed in the South. I would suggest that time most certainly is a factor now. If the away support isn't forthcoming, or the 'masses' of Wrexham don't take to the game, the future of the club will be dead at that point.

I don't see what the Gateshead club has got to do with the re-location and future of the Crusaders????



I'll bet there are some fans in S. Wales that don't believe it's good for the game in that neck of the woods???? And Catalan is a club established from existing clubs in an exceedingly strong area for rugby a XIII!!
The crusaders are already approaching the 4th season and the club are nowhere near stable! We have had the Visa fiasco. The management change round. The finances and support required from the RFL to get them through til the seasons end. A dispensation to field a boat load of overseas players and a move away from it's predominant development area. Moving the club from 'the' establishing fan base!! Good for the UK game???
Time will tell owd cock!


Every development project is a slap to the head for a northern club that has to make way for it! I'm not saying that developing the game is wrong. But if it has to be this way, I'm going to be closely observing the performance of said club to see if the direction our game is being taken by the games administrators is worth the effort.

The crusaders short history has been extremely volatile to say the least. I always thought that in S Wales, given time, it may well have yeilded results. The time factor was too much for Leighton Samuels.
We'll see how the new lot do. I remain unconvinced at the mo!

Not sure how relevant this is, but it seems that the Wrexham ANZACS are not even the same team legally.

A bloke on the SW Scorps website has found that Celtic Crusaders Limited is being / has been wound up and a new company formed with the name Wrexham Crusaders Limited and a new company number.

So it seems that the only thing the Wrexham Crusaders (THEIR name, not my dig) have in common with the late lamented (by me) CELTIC Crusaders is half a dozen players, half a dozen supporters and Mike fakking Turner.

As such it seems odd to me that the WC were given the franchise previously awarded to the CC, without even having to apply.

That was a slight dig at Leigh.

The relocation should bring in more supporters and be a more stable environment for the club to build on.

4 years ok Promoted from NL2 to NL1 second in in NL1 and given a Super League License what is the problem with that now if they had been 4th or 5th in NL1 when the licence was granted then everyone would have something to complain about.

There is no future in just having clubs in the heartlands we have got to expand to grow give the club a chance just look what Catalan achieved in there first 3 years.

And supporting an unpopular team is nothing new to me been a Wigan season ticket holder for 40 years and still am but i am also giving my support to the Crusaders.

Give the Club a chance and support the sport not just your own club if we are every going to compete with Union we all need to pull together and have a truly National game not just in the M62 corridor.