Greetings,

I am the editor of 'The Centurion' - matchday magazine of Leigh Centurions. We have been running a 52-page programme for all our home games, and have been including an article from a visiting supporter, in each issue. The subject matter of these articles is left to the contributor, as long as it is RL-related. So far, we have only failed to receive articles from supporters of London Skolars and Lokomotiv Moscow.

If anyone at Doncaster would like to write for the programme, on 2nd August, please PM me, for more details.

Cheers,

Alan Edge

See PM.

Gary.

I now have a 'willing volunteer', so the rest of you can relax!! Good luck for the rest of this season and looking forward to seeing you all on 2nd August. (and probably next season too, the way things are going!!! )

Just so everyone is aware, I have submitted a piece for the programme for the Leigh v Doncaster fixture tomorrow. Nice that we will be represented in this publication.

It talks about the problems of this season and also of the supporters desire to set up a Supporters (Trust or) Society.

Below is the piece written for yesterdays matchday programme ...


This brings back a few memories. Prior to the Dons (Dragons / Lakers as they were in those days) moving to the Keepmoat Stadium, I was a regular contributor to the Doncaster programme and having been given the opportunity to contribute to today’s match programme, it was a pleasure to agree.
I guess it’s fair to say that this season has been a big disappointment for both Clubs. Many would have had the Centurions down for a top six finish (myself included) but last weekend’s defeat at Barrow provided further evidence that is now a very unlikely scenario.
For Doncaster, the expectations were not quite so lofty. Staying financially viable and retaining a place in the Championship would have been the extent of it. Unfortunately neither of those objectives will be achieved with the Club currently in administration and (at the time of writing) no offers on the table to take over ownership. Relegation to Championship One looks a certainty and the victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium which secured promotion seemingly now a distant memory.

We played our first game at the Keepmoat Stadium for two months last weekend having had a run of blank weekends, away fixtures, a nines event and a couple of ‘home’ games played down the road at Featherstone. The attendance of 337 shows just how big a problem the Club is now faced with. Not only was it less than half of the Club’s original break even figure from the start of the season but it was less than any fixture in the Championship including the four games in Championship One.

The turnover of players this season since the news broke of the Club’s financial situation has been nothing short of staggering. Nine senior players left and two loan players from Super League Clubs returned to their parent Clubs (we have subsequently had a further two from a Super League Club’s Academy and they too have returned). Two weeks ago at Batley we had five players making their league debut and last weekend against Whitehaven another two.

This is not and should not be taken as a criticism of those players who have left. They have a living to earn and families to look after and have to do whatever they feel is right for them. It is however heart-wrenching for the Club’s supporters (and I do wonder if some of them will ever come and watch the Dons again?)

On the field last weekend’s narrow home defeat was certainly a step in the right direction following four very heavy defeats against Batley (twice), Sheffield and Widnes and the effort of those currently wearing the shirts could not be faulted.

Off the field, the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Club continues but one positive which has come from the depths of despair is that a group of supporters (of which I am proud to say that I am one) have got together with Laura Harrison from Supporters Direct to work towards launching the Doncaster Rugby League Supporters Society, bringing together experience and knowledge from a number of previous supporter-led groups. Whilst we realise that there is a lot of work ahead of us and we are in no position to take over the running of the Club we aim to be in a position to support whoever does ultimately acquire the Club and looking longer term who knows, we may eventually become a supporter-run Club.

Looking at today’s match, this has probably become a must-win fixture for Leigh who I guess will also have one eye on the fixture at Gateshead between the Thunder and Batley Bulldogs. It would seem that one of those three is likely join Doncaster in Championship One next season. I’m sure that the Centurions will feel that there is a point to prove after last weekend’s reversal at Barrow but the Dons will surely take heart from last Sunday’s bonus point. With the two least potent attacks in the division going head-to-head, this may not be a points-frenzy but hopefully it will be a good contest with no injuries.

All the best to the Centurions and their supporters for the remainder of the season.

Gary Fox
(Doncaster RL supporter).

Gary,

Just a quick public thank you for the excellent article you provided, for our programme.

Also, a big well done to your team, for their performance. They probably deserved more than one point, for their efforts. Many have spoken about spirit, and endeavour, and I would like to add to that, the words skill, and inventiveness. You certainly gave our lads something to think about, and came so near to snatching the game, in the last play!

Well done too, to the fans who travelled over. I think we Leythers can learn something about getting behind our team, when things are going badly.

Good luck for the rest of this season - please see off Gateshead for us - and in your battle for survival.

Alan,

No problem it was a pleasure. It really is great to see a Club with their own publication - I also noted that you have quite an input to what is a quality Matchday Magazine.

I thought the team did us supporters proud yesterday and I would have liked them to have tasted victory but it just wasn't to be.

We are small in numbers at away matches these days but we love the Dons and try to smile (and sing) through adversity.

We might just do you a favour yet with Gateshead, we'd certainly take a well-needed victory if possible.

Thanks again for the opportunity to get 'published' oncemore and good luck for the remainder of the season. I honestly think you will get the points you need.

Gary.

Must say Gary a very impressive article by your goodself and have to agree it was nice to see a proper programme.
Speaking to the programme seller at Leigh he reported that the 'Game On' programme will be no more after this season, which I m sure not too many will mourn.

This looks like being the case - to be fair to the RFL, many clubs jumped at the opportunity to stop producing their own oprogramme, which is usually run at a loss, and is very time-consuming to produce! (believe me!) However, personally, I think the programme has to be produced by the club - it's an essential part of the communication process with fans!

Thanks for the comments and good luck for the future. (especially against Gateshead!)

As a Leigh Centurions fan / draw seller/programme seller(THE one mentioned previously ).............WELL DONE to the DONS for a brilliant performance on Sunday, which was deserving of more than just a bonus point !

Loads of passion and good rugby and not a dirty or cynical challenge all afternoon................Those lads did you proud !!!!!!!!!!!