Former Lion, with Widnesian connections, Chris Atkin, is heading to Bradford, and he's in their squad for the Giants' visit to Odsal on Friday.
He always had that "summat about him" whilst he was with us, so it was no real surprise when he became a Robin on a FT contract. He's since been a Pink, and a Tiger.
Along with his good lady, and little one, he lives only about half a mile from Chez Spelly.
Spelly.
Hooker, George Roby left us yesterday, and he's now signed for 'Ornits.
His form this term, hasn't been the best, but that could be said of a goodly few in our squad.
I'm sure he'll be fired up big style, when we go there later in the campaign!
Spelly.
First day of British Summer Time, but there was cold wind blowing today (both on and off the park) at the Eco-Power Stadium, where it finished...................
Dons 74-6 Lions, and it was as comfortable as it sounds!
Far too good for our makeshift team, and yet again, we conceded bang on half-time!
Injuries forced us to play a winger at last line, a second-rower in the centres, and switch our normal full-back into the halves.
There was (again) no shortage of effort, but the quality is just not there, and we still sit on zero in the W column.
The attendance was announced at 1,170, and I reckon the odd seventy were Lions!
It's the big 'un next week, when the Pinks come a-calling!
Spelly.
Paul Wood has gone!
The board have accepted his resignation.
I would imagine Anthony Murray will now take charge.
If we thought the Pinks' game couldn't get bigger, it now has!
Spelly.
Well spelly at least you will get a lot of beer tokens coming in - really hope you can turn them over, but you really are thin at the moment ?
Well spelly at least you will get a lot of beer tokens coming in - really hope you can turn them over, but you really are *thin at the moment ?
*I think "anorexic" would be a more apt term at present mate, but........
Injuries are part and parcel of a game as physical as ours.
As I suggested, Anthony Murray has now been appointed as Wood's successor, and he begins his tenure in the hot seat in the derby with the Pinks on Easter Sunday.
Can we finally remove that zero from our W column?
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Just back from Heywood Road, where it finished 20-10 the wrong way, meaning we still sit on zero comp points.
The effort was there again from us, so no complaints there, but a lot of spilled ball certainly didn't help our cause.
They scored three tries to our two, so the scoreline is prob about right.
A bit fiesty at times, resulting in a total of four cards. Three yellows, of which two were for us (same guy both times) one for them, and a (deserved) red for us just before the end.
Jack Bibby had a fine game for them, with Brad Dwyer showing some touches that he's still a quality footballer.
2,785 the crowd, which is the best ever for us at this venue.
It was a 2.00pm KO coz there was a scheduled match between our respective ladies' team to follow the men, but they couldn't raise a team.
The guys aren't in action again for three weeks, when Keighley head our way, but the girls have a home cup-tie with Sheff a week today, and that'll he played at Rose Bridge.
Spelly.
Fair play spelly, great crowd, many needed beer tokens for you !
pity you didn’t beat the fraud though
2785 that was a great crowd John. Will pay for rest of the season for you👍👍
2785 that was a great crowd John. Will pay for rest of the season for you👍👍
It'll help, of course it will. They prob had more there than us, but a Pink's money is welcomed by our bank manager, just as much as a Lion's! But do I still hate 'em? Of course I do, and make zero apologies for it!
I reckon in our three previous home games, the total number of fans the opposition brought, didn't reach three figures between 'em!
Finances are tight, but we pay our bills and salaries on time.
Our next / first win has gotta come soon, but meantime I'll be giving our girls a cheer come Sunday!
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
At Rose Bridge today, it finished Lionesses 36-6 Sheffield, and a more than comfortable start to our defence of the Shield.
Our ladies' next game is a fortnight today, when we again host the Eagles, this time in the league, in a double header at Heywood Road, together with the first team clashing with Keighley.
On the debit side, we're now four points astray at the wrong end of the Championship, as 'Haven won at Goole. The kick-off was delayed there because of (so I've been told) a hand grenade was found! And..........
The Pinks grabbed a late drop-goal to beat the 'Dogs! ☹️ ☹️
'Fax lost, so they're still basement boys on -6 comp points, coz of their deduction.
We're not in action next week, so I reckon 'Ornits v Sheff will be my port of call.
Spelly.
Did (almost) two games today!
Our ladies weren't due to be in action, but after Keighley couldn't raise a team to play at Oldham in the league, we helped out the 'Yeds with a hastily arranged friendly, but.........
After just six minutes of the second half, with us leading 40-0, the ref brought an early end to proceedings, as the hosts had picked up a load of injuries.
I then made the short trip to Spotland, where 'Ornits after going 10-0 down early doors, comfortably beat Sheff 32-18.
Spelly.
It's thirty-four years ago to this very day, that we at the Lions were stabbed in the back, kicked in the wotsits, poohed on from a great height, by the custodians with whom we'd entrusted our beloved club!
Yes, Station Road had been sold from under our noses, and we as fans knew SFA about it, until we read it in the press (no social media then) a few days later!
We've been nomadic ever since, and it only actually struck me the other day, that coz I first went in '61, it means I've now been supporting 'em for a longer time away from the Shrine, than I did at it!
I've seen us host games on fifteen different venues during my time as a Lion, but the love for my team has never waned, and it never will!
Does it still hurt what was done to us? Of course it bloody does, and it always will, coz no other supporters anywhere, have been treated as shabbily as we were, but..................
We remain alive and kicking, and I'm still soooooooooooooooooo proud to be a Swinton fan!
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly