Before any locals attack me this is just my view having lived in the area for over 15 years and is not a criticism of anybody involved.
In Cumbria the way corporate support is given to clubs is different to many other areas and is more akin to pre super league. As the players are semi pro. they work and the work in the area is very well paid compared to comparable jobs in Lancs. and Yorkshire. This is due to the perceived danger of working in the local industries (steel and chemical plants (although they are shut or shutting) and nuclear). If a player signs local semi pro. he will normally work directly or in a supporting company to these industries. There is no doubt they are looked on favourably to help get this employment. They are then in a cycle that it is not worth turning full time as its good money for 10 years or good money 40 years. It’s a no brainer. Some choose not to even go semi pro. as its not worth it.
I don't see an answer to it unless someone pumps real big money in directly to the clubs as Sky did for SL but then it would need to be a larger amount to kick start it. As was said before money is needed for the stadia also and the infrastructure.
Having said all the above now is possibly the best chance to get it started with the monies that will be pumped into the area if the energy coast development happens. It probably just needs a real good forward thinking organiser (with the cash) to make it happen.

As I say mate I would call myself a Cumbrian no doubt but ask a Barrovian over 60 if he is from Cumbria or Lancs he will probably say Lancs

In all fairness Starbug, its not about the last 5 years If it was I would agree, 'haven are best placed. Its about the next 5 and on that there is no doubt that Barrow are the Cumbrian RL side on the up.

Other than that your about cock on.

Cumbrian sides with

1. Biggest fan base =
2. Best Ground =
3. Most money =
4. Biggest potential =
5. Best catchment area =
6. Commercially viable =

Which clubs are top in each ?

What about starting a club in Carlise, then we don't need to worry about expanding into Scotland. Gateshead and Carlise could then have the pick of the Scottish talent

[quote="Saint Simon"][/quote]
That answers it then really, pretty much a non discussion

Currently, they are way out in front IMO

Dont forget I was replying to this


[quote]Thats exactly the paradox in cumbrian, you cant merge teams because of the rivalry and the distance, but the clubs are possibly not big enough on their own. At the moment i think Barrow are best placed.[/quote]

My point being that yes Barrow are best placed now , Worky were best placed in 95 , Haven have been best placed recently , so all clubs are having some relative success but I dont personally think any of them will ever pull in the numbers unless they get some really serious investment

And I'm talking about £ 30 million , to build a stadium [ that the club either owns or runs , just renting/using a council facility doesn't make the club enough money ] and to finance a competitive squad in SL for 5 years while they build a fan base big enough to support said club

It really does need that amount to be certain of success

Scary isn't it

Barrow are going to redevelop Craven Park completely on the existing site. Building a new stadium in todays financial world would be suicide.

£30M is WAY over the top IMO. A total redevelopment can be done for a surprisingly low amount, as no land needs to be purchased. 'Brown field' developments also attract fundng/grants etc.

For arguments sake, if Barrow were to enter SL next season our crowds over the course of the season would be bigger than Quins and Celtics, maybe Salford and Wakefield as well. That would just be for starters.

Getting into SL massively increases sponsorship, Sky cash, season ticket sales, merchandse sales and much more.

Just a few stats you may (or may not) find intersting .......

Barrow (pop. 72,000), Cas (37,500), Leigh (44,000), Wakefield (76,000), Wigan (81,000), Haven (25,500), Widnes (53,500), Workington (46,000).

I know they don't prove anything other than the potential of Barrow as a SL club.

Catchment when you take in S. Cumbria is well over 100,000. You also have to remember that there are no other clubs competing for support within 1.5 hours drive. Unlike the SL over-saturated areas along the M62.

1. Biggest fan base = Probably Whitehaven just

2. Best Ground = Whitehaven 7500 but a bit of a dump
Barrow 4500 small but nice ground
Workington 10,000 shared with speedway and with global warming probably underwater in 10 years

3. Most money = Barrow heavy financial backer

4. Biggest potential = because of the money Barrow

5. Best catchment area = probably Barrow even though they are the most southerly but Carlisle would be the best option

6. Commercially viable = Money brings security so Barrow

Current League Standings

Barrow: 2nd League 1
Whitehaven: 5th League 1
Workington: 8th League 2


Whitehaven and Workington are only 7 miles apart so if a merger was to be done it would probably have to be these 2 teams