Well, tonight (Wednesday) sees the third broadcast of our new radio show on Salford City Radio 94.4 FM (or the net at www.salfordcityradio.org).

So far I think it’s going alright. The second show was a gazillion times better than the first but due to a problem with net streaming for the station I think fewer people probably heard it than they should.

We’ve moved to rectify this kind of thing and negotiated with the guys at the station that the show will be replayed on a Friday between 6-7pm, which is a good time for us because it’s either when we are not playing, or at a time when you are probably getting ready to go to the match if we’re at home.

We’ve recruited Mr Parkin to be on every week for his punditry from a fans perspective and I’m very, very pleased about that.

Please do get involved though, email in during the week to me at paul.mcnally@reds.co.uk or when we are on air to studio@salfordcityreds.org

You can also text in, just listen to the show for details of the number etc.

Wednesday’s special guest should be testimonial boy Paul Highton so it should be worth a listen.

Tune in and let us know what you think.

This weekend see the next chapter of the Salford City Derby (Although I’m sure Lions fans won’t like that wording!), there have been some great battles between the two over the past 128 years. Let’s hope this weekend will prove to be another. Both teams will be nothing but encouraged by their starts to the Northern Rail Cup campaign but with varying amounts of success. Whilst we’ve come up with two big wins against dogged opposition, the Lions have lost narrowly to the same clubs, firstly a late try by James Coyle coverted by Mick Nanyn for Oldham at Boundary Park gave the Roughyeads a 22 – 20 win. And last weekend they again lost to a late try by Martin Ainscough and converted by Simon Svabic for Rochdale at Park Lane only for Swinton to score in the last play of the game but unfortunately Richie Hawkyard missed the resulting conversion for a 34 – 36 loss. Even with two losses behind them, they still have the 2^nd best attack and 2^nd best defence (But of course, they haven’t met us yet!) I’m sure Swinton will be up for this test and with the amount of ex-Reds in their ranks, they’ll be a few players with a point to prove.

On a personal note I love derby days, they may have lost a bit of that competitive edge over the past 10 years or so, primarily since the loss of Station Road. Either way they’re still special. I’m sure the Swinton fans will have plenty to say but I’d be 99% sure that we will too.

Players who may feature who have played for both clubs: Karl Fitzpatrick, Darren Bamford (Swinton), Chris Morley (Swinton), Darren Gibson (Swinton), Dean Gorton (Swinton), Martin Moana (Swinton), Barry Hamilton (Swinton), Gareth Hayes (Swinton)

A reminder of a few special Games:1880 - Salford 0 Swinton 2 – The first Derby (Played under RU rules) 1885 - Swinton 0 Salford 0 – A true derby, so much so Swinton suspended fixtures between the two teams for two years and that had to be played at a neutral venue!1899/00 Challenge Cup Final; Swinton 16 Salford 8 - 17,864 @ Fallowfield1901/02 First game at the Willows; Salford 2 Swinton 0 – 16,9811931/32 Lancashire Cup Final; Salford 10 Swinton 8

1990/91 - Division One Final game; Swinton 10 Salford 10 (Swinton clinched promotion and we won the league title)

1991/92 - Final game at Station Road; Swinton 18 Salford 26 – 3,487 – Ady, Ady Hadley!

Don’t forget to listen to Salford City Radio 94.4 FM between 18.00 – 19.00 this (and every) Wednesday for the Rugby League Round-up.