Just a tip off to keep you all keen after this fine day in the club’s history. We’ll be releasing a major story during the course of Weds morning…

Keep your eyes peeled.

Good to see so many of you there today..see you in The Willows after the game on Friday.

Paul

Okay, so Tuesday 22 July 2008 may not be as big a day for the sport as when the Northern Union broke away in 1895 to form what eventually become the game we all watch today, but for some clubs, this date is set to become etched in their history as the day things changed forever.

Now whether you are a believer in the licence system or promotion and relegation - and you can hear vociferous arguments for both in pubs around grounds and internet forums the land over - one thing is for sure, at 10am on Tuesday, at certain clubs the air is going to turn very quickly blue, then dark grey and then probably descend into shocked silence before somebody’s work really begins.

Played out simultaneously, and hopefully here at The Willows, scenes of triumphant joy and no doubt a fair bit of a-whooping and a-hollering and plenty of back-slapping all round will be on display as club’s applications and efforts are vindicated.

Whatever the outcome here, and believe me I’m hoping to have my back slapped big time, personally, in the back of my mind I hope the successful clubs can spare a thought for the unsuccessful ones and I especially hope the fans of each will do the same to each other as people may well be fearing what the future might hold.

This process has been a long one and over the last six weeks or so an air of ‘licence weariness’ has crept in among supporters, staff, players, rugby league journalists right throughout our game but these last few days has seen a change and people I speak to are out-and-out nervous. This isn’t just fans but friends I have working at other clubs are having last minute nerves and in a way it will bizarre to think that in just a few hours everybody will at least know where they stand and what they have to do in the immediate future.

If the Reds are successful I am excited by the opportunity to build for the next three years, knowing that the Stadium will arrive well in time for the next application, which if our business continues to be run as well as it has been for the past quarter century and beyond, will help immeasurably when it comes to the work that needs to be done by all in 2011.

I personally believe the game is being shaken up for the better. What happens on Tuesday isn’t just about the next three seasons, it is about the next 30 and beyond. Fundamentally we have to look past the “why did they get in, they only get a few thousand fans etc” - you all know the arguments that rage, I don’t need to go on - we have to look at what the likes of the Dragons have achieved in just three years - the length of a licence in fact.

Everybody will tell you they want what’s good for the game but often that’s only if it includes what they actually want in it.

Twenty20 cricket in India made a bold move and can look back at a hugely successful inaugural season, with media frenzy following it everywhere. I think Twenty20 in this country has just made a muted, half-hearted attempt at change and we’ll have to see how well it works but given the choice I would have gone, as a sports fan too, for the more extreme idea that was on offer.

I believe the Licensing system is another such bold move, and to that end, deserves success and, perhaps more importantly, to be respected enough not to be judged in just two or three years.

So here’s to Tuesday, I look forward to seeing plenty of you down here for a moment of history.

Now try and get some sleep this weekend

Paul

The RFL and Sky TV have now confirmed that Halifax v Salford City Reds will now take place on Thursday 31 July, Kick off 7.30pm.

The 2007 Video Highlights for posterity, courtesy of the team at Sky Sports.

Paul Highton will hist a meet the Players event this evening at the Willows as part of his testimonal year.

Families are invited to the variety Centre for 7.30pm, where you will be able to meet and greet with members of the Reds first team and try out you skills with rugby sessions on the pitch (weather permitting). The Red Hot flames will be opening the evening and there will be a chance to get a close up look at the Northern Rail Cup.

Tickets priced at £2 each are available from the club shop or on the door of the willows this evening.

Family tickets priced at £6 will admit 2 adults / 2 children are also available.

The Willows snack bar will also be open this evening.

Hi folks, well you’ve been asking for it and now in association we are podcasting our weekly Rugby Roundup show which is broadcast every Weds at 6-7PM on Salford City Radio 94.4FM.

What we have here is last weeks show which we are making live for testing purposes, over the next week you will be able to set your iTunes to download each show to your ipod to listen to on the way to work, and other cool stuff.

Listen to the show by clicking ont he play button and post any probs in the comment space below.

We’ll be putting the show up each week and also a selection of highlights from the 23 previous shows so far.

Enjoy

If you want to subscribe to the feed (and know what that means this is the link…

http://blogs.originalreddevils.com/feed/podcast/

Meanwhile, a live Rugby Roundup will be absent from the airwaves this evening but you can listen to a repeat of last week’s show. Next week we will be back, bigger and better next week the day after the Licences are awarded…

Cheers

Staff from the Salford City Reds Foundation will be taking part in the very first Manchester Urbanathlon this coming sunday to raise the profile of the Reds in Manchester! This 10km urban assault course takes place in East Manchester, finishing in Phillips Park via numerous obstacles including the river Medlock.

The event is the first of its kind in this country and will no doubt grow to be a permanent fixture in the local sporting calendar!

For more information about the event or to even take part please visit www.urbanathlon.co.uk