But so very few who will stick their neck out and give a single reason WHY we COULD and SHOULD move onwards and upwards.

I went to Headingley on Sunday to watch the Leeds v Worcester league clash. It was a memorable occasion with an `Official' crowd of 5,500 (I think a significantly larger unofficial crowd.) Two sets of supporters had turned out in force to see their teams battle for the pole position for promotion into the Premiership and the circa £1,800,000 Central sponsorship to help their budget next year and a fixture list that brings Leicester, Bath, Gloucester, Newcastle and ALL the giants of the game to THEIR stadium.

OK both clubs have enjoyed private backing from Messers Cecil Duckworth and Paul Caddick. Just three weeks ago I was fortunate to be invited by Paul Caddick to join him for a coffee after the Leeds v Orrell game. He proudly showed me and a few friends around the Headingley ground and was delighted to talk about the expansion plans and ground development he had in train for the future. I too was gripped by his enthusiasm and love of the game and his community.

Already I hear the Nay-says criticising the venture, complaining that his advantage of owning the stadium, Leeds Tykes and the Rhinos is not fair and that his venture is fool hardy. It didn't seem fool hardy to me on Sunday when the community pride from both sets of fans generated an electric and magnificent atmosphere not to mention tens of thousands of pounds in gate money..

Conversely I have witnessed the mind set of the management at local rivals Orrell. I've noted their cash problems, possible deals with JJB and Wigan Rugby League, probable deal with Wayne Homes and a near disaster on the field positioning their team precariously in the relegation zone. Should they and Waterloo fail to score the wins in the remaining games they will drop a division and in so doing, loose £130,000 from their Central sponsorship income.

The transition from amateur to professional status in an unproved spectator sport is thwart with difficulty. Orrell, Waterloo, Richmond and the latest victims of the financial `Bear Trap', Wasps is a salutary lesson for all in the game.

BUT.....Rugby IS coming as a spectator sport. We have almost wall to wall worldwide TV coverage of our sport in unprecedented quantity and quality. Just cast your mind back a few years. Good old BBC screened the 5 Nations a few other Internationals and the occasional clip of the Twickenham 7s and a Barbarian game or two. That was it. We could go MONTHS with no TV coverage at all. Now we have rugby chat shows, review programmes, virtually every International, Super 12s Weekly Club Match of the Day, the European Cup and a TV promotion machine that defies description. Check the ratings,,,, Rugby IS well supported by the viewer and Mr Murdock is making nice profits from his subscriptions and advertising incomes.

The casualties are unfortunate; no one likes to see a famous name of the past go into insolvency and their tradition to obscurity. BUT that is the way of the world, Natural Selection and the Survival of the Fittest is a fundamental law of nature! Rugby as a spectator mass media sport IS happening already. It WILL continue to happen and develop for those with the vision, skill and energy to take advantage of the opportunity. There have been casualties and there will be still more casualties, but there will also be surprising winners and very BIG winners. It saddens me a little that we here on the Wirral continue to argue amongst ourselves, fight to preserve outdated practice and tradition and cling to the memories of an illustrious past. In the meantime the likes of Leeds and Worcester, with little or no rugby union pedigree are positioning for the Glory days that they and their communities are PROBABLY going to enjoy.

In the past successful businessmen gifted Museums, Art Galleries and Civic monuments to their community. In the modern era there are those who choose to GIFT funds to establish and build sporting teams and clubs. The cosy traditional fellowship of rugby clubs will throw up many who, like Luddites, will gather to decry , ridicule and criticise the extravagant developments and efforts of others. I believe History will show that the end of the 1990s and the early part of the third millennium will demonstrate that the future Manchester United's, Liverpool's and Arsenals of the rugby world made their moves at this time. Similarly there will be those of weak will, poor management and little courage that will go the way of Accrington Stanley.

We still have a chance to position a Wirral club for promotion to perhaps the National League First Division and then consider if this community can support a Premiership club…I believe Merseyside well able to provide an environment where Premiership Rugby could survive and even thrive and I see no reason why such a `Premiership' club should not be situated on this side of the water.

I repeat the points I have repeatedly made for near a decade now. A Co-operative collaboration between local clubs, business, commerce, education and civic bodies could well produce and deliver a senior rugby club on the Wirral. After all there is a probable 50% EEC funding support package available right now throughout a wide geographic area. While we occupy our time and argument on justifying the status quo, others around the country are positioning to do right by their communities securing a Premiership or First division facility to benefit their neighbourhood. So long as the best WE can offer is effectively Division 4 rugby the best players and the talented sons of Wirral will continue to migrate away from the community of their birth. All our complaining and moaning will not stop that.

Either we believe in the sport and our community or we do not…It really is that simple. Should we generate the confidence and ambition to move Onwards and Upwards the funding would be found, the backers would come forward and the community would solve the problems. As it is we continue to strive and fight to preserve excellence in a small pool but mediocrity in the big picture!

Enough for now, I fear the debates will continue justifying a hundred reasons why we should NOT and the voice of the visionary continue to be ridiculed. I repeat an anecdote used by me in the past:-

Enjoy the game, enjoy the season and do not be afraid to dream !

BENTLEY

Perhaps not so much Bull!?

Pete Clark weighed in with his usual astute observations…Frank did a masterful job as Regimental Sergeant Major Briton……For those who don't know, he was the countries leading toastmaster at major functions for years…Remember him? The chap with the big handlebar moustache and the scarlet toastmaster jacket….No! well never mind. Frank did an excellent impersonation in his white jacket..

Captain Jaffa did well and Dave York weighed in with the Post Script to round it all off.

Yes it was a good night….BENTLEY, however, does not agree with some of the messages coming from the night…But you would be surprised if I did.

Rugby Dinners are about friendship, fellowship and tradition. They are about good humour, good food and not just a little alcohol to lubricate the mood and spirit…….. Denis was in fine form. His delivery was quite brilliant…Yes that's my honest opinion I felt his diction, enunciation and timing were quite excellent. OK. He shouted once in a while…but his dramatic pauses, delivery and sense of drama were pure magic. Look out Frank his time as President is reaching full term and he will be wanting a new position.

Now…regarding to my disagreement with some of the messages coming out of the night. It was mentioned that we should be looking to the great days of the past and celebrating in the memories of a 4^th and 5^th XV. Similarly we should be saluting the 3^rd XV as the "Backbone of our club." Quite so I hear you say

Now I ask you to think again…What is New Brighton Football Club (RU) seeking to achieve ?

Do we want to develop a Semi Pro 1^st XV competing in the 1^st Division of the National League?

Do we want to be building our crowds, sponsorships and a sound commercial infrastructure ?

Do we want to be an increasing force at the head of Northern rugby ?

If we harbour any of the above then we have to think again about a 4^th and 5^th XV. <

They are a magnificent chapter in the history of this Club. BUT If we want to develop along the lines of a semi professional outfit climbing the competitive ladder then 4^th & 5^th XV rugby have no part in our future.

For the moment we can accept the notion of a hard drinking, intrepid touring 3^rd XV….. but we should NOT seek to foster anything more than a social team for `The Olds' who have passed their `Sell by Date' in the 1^st & 2nd XV's and still want to play their rugby here at Reeds Lane. IF we are really serious about moving Onwards and Upwards, however, a 3^rd XV has no real part in the future where we are `pursuing excellence' neither is it the vehicle for developing and maturing the best of our young talent..

IF and it is a big `IF'……… If we are really seeking to move into the semi professional game we MUST focus ALL our energy and acumen on the 1^st XV.

Already I hear the roars of disapproval and the good old lads at the bar contenting themselves with the usual popular comments:-

Sorry lads….BUT IF we are serious about moving Onwards and Upward then…….. You is wrong!

In my experience a serious semi professional club with ambition in rugby football cannot be easily married with the needs and requirements of a `traditional' club. Not impossible but difficult and distracting.

We have no fitness suite at Reeds Lane, we have no indoor training facilities at Reeds Lane, we have poor corporate hospitality facilities, we have no real match day PA, we have negligible commercial and promotional capacity and at present appear to be spread-eagled between the two disciplines.

I fear that our thinking is based on memories of a late lamented era, emotion and a forlorn hope of success. It is not based on well thought out proven, tried and tested strategies and methods. We are not alone in this position. Indeed we are better than most with the majority of rugby clubs in our green and pleasant land continuing to tread the same impossible path with benefactors paying for others to play the game in a loss making spiral.

I fear it will not be long before further disputes flare up between our Twickenham fathers and the Premiership Clubs. Similarly I fear that anything can happen regarding the future organisation of our game. When they cannot legislate for promotion and relegation issues at the outset of the league, we can have little confidence in their ability to provide dynamic, incisive and visionary leadership,.

I think I've said enough for this chapter of Bentleys Bull……..There is, however, more. Much more for whoever wants to read it. Watch this space for more BENTLEYS BULL,,,SOON!

Best wishes

Bentley

to

`STEVO'

No..!!.. STEVO has been a REAL GOOD-UN

His training regime of Guinness and `Pie-Oids served him and Marco for hundreds and hundreds of 1^st XV games for the Blues. I know not precisely how many but believe it to be over 700 between them….What an achievement ! and What a servant to the cause.

Stevo has been part of the `Backbone'…`The Spine' that has seen New Brighton climb through the lean years to the GLORY times of the past six years…

Stevo has been there…A fixture in the front row to anchor the pack and reek havoc with the opposition.

I remember when I first toured with the club in Romania, or `Rumania' has Kevin Brookman would have you think. STEVO held his Tour Virgins Court…Now that was a frightening experience. Anyone who has received a verdict from JUDGE STEVO will know what I mean.

I will miss his presence at Reeds Lane and his jaundiced sense of humour..

The Lad did good….A credit to himself and an example to us all.

I'm sure we'll still be seeing lots of the BIG FELLA in the future …

But for Now:-

Good Luck STEVO

From The Fat Man.

And there he is again! Blues short of forwards for key fixture against Sedgley Park on Saturday, so Stevo was recalled to the colours. And, as ever, did a sterling job.

Very well done Steve, the Club owes you.

Few will forget the thriller between these two clubs in the Spring of 1998 when over 2000 fans streamed into sun drenched Reeds Lane to witness a modern day classic. So tight was the game that despite five successful drop goals, the teams were still locked together after 80 mins of pulsating action for a 28 - 28 drawn result. Victory over Widnes the following week gave New Brighton the Championship and the promotion that brought National League rugby to the Wirral.

Doncaster won promotion the following season to renew the annual Blues versus Tykes battles. Playing out of their new £2.8 million complex, the Yorkshire club remains fiercely ambitious for success. Doncaster's recruits include Ex Leicester and England International John Liley and experienced coach Derek Eves, under whose guidance they have a thriving development programme that brings Yorkshire's best into their 1st XV.

Liley orchestrated a 11 - 3 Doncaster win over the Blues in September to inflict the first defeat of the season on Connors men. Indeed, we have to go as far back as August 1999 since the Blues last beat the Tykes in League rugby. Doncaster undid New Brighton's promotion drive last season with a score in the last minute of yet another pulsating encounter to squeak a 20 - 18 win that let Kendal in for the championship. Reeds Lane again promises to be the place to be on Saturday as these two clubs line up for the third game in as many seasons that could determine the League and promotion.

Check League Table

New Brighton, Stourbridge and Doncaster all have to travel to 'in form' Sedgley Park before the end of the season. Sedgley have won 14 of their last 15 games and have been racking up points in recent weeks with another 56 on Saturday. They have now the best score points difference in the League. So tight is this year's title race that slide rules and calculators may well be required to separate the teams.

With the top teams North and South gaining automatic promotion to Div 2 and the second teams involved in a play off for the third promotion place, New Brighton are well in the race with everything to play for. After appearing so strong earlier in January, Stourbridge have been faltering in recent weeks and looking distinctly vulnerable. Sedgley Park will be favourites to win at home against the other title chasers and present a tough challenge for both New Brighton and Stourbridge. But, with the exception of the trip to Manchester based Sedgley, New Brighton have the more difficult away games behind them and are looking good for a top two finish. At least on paper!.

Not only needing to win their games, the Blues must push up their points difference. A 79 -point haul against Morley earlier in the season shows that they have the backs to do it. The signing of Beauchamp is an indication that the Club Directors are giving every support to their Club as the Wirral men battle it out in the closest and most exciting league championship for years.

TEAM 2001

I have seen some very good teams and several great players since I arrived at Reeds Lane some five years ago. It seems like an eternity since I put my kit on and ran YES RAN onto the training field to work with Lol on the coaching panel.

From what I remember the Coaching panel in those days was Lol and Yours Truly. Kevin Brookman weighed in with a captains input and there was the occasional U-N-F-O-R-G-E-T-A-B-L-E appearance of Gareth - F***ing hell Boy, that's useless. You would be as much use in the second row of the stands -Hopkins.

I'm sure there are many HOPKINS memories and quotes that others might like to remind us of. I await with interest your contributions posted on the Discussion Forum.

However, back to the plot. The point I am seeking to make is this. I believe the squad currently signed to NBFC are the strongest group of players that I have seen since I have been a member at Reeds Lane. Furthermore, with Messer's Atherton, Rule, Shuttleworth and Sutton supporting the work of Cur Connor, sorry I meant Sir Connor. Although after a 90 minute `beast session' I suspect there are those who might call him a Cur.What is a Cur anyway?

So with the best group of players in many a long year and with nearly enough coaches for one between four should we not be BLOWING AWAY the other leading Clubs in our league ?

I think YES!I think that despite our big talk we are NOT playing BIG and that we are NOT playing off confidence.

Consider the home game against Stourbridge. We smacked them in the opening minutes and left them wondering what had hit them. Please remember that BIG NICK was not in the line up and we had Jez, King Campbell, Foxy and Captain Inspirational across the second row of the scrum. The line up did it for me with BIG men getting about the field like thoroughbreds and hitting the breakdowns faster and earlier than I have ever seen them do before, or since.

My point is that with this line up we were forced to go wider and play faster simply because we believed we did not have the weight and power to take them on in a tight, pick and drive, forward battle. The rest is history, we smacked them and stretched to a 24 point lead.

It was only later on in the game when the team appeared to breathe in and decide to `Slow it down and shut them out' that they came back for the late scores that made the result look respectable for them. Had we kept our foot to the floor and continued to play with belief and confidence for one believe that we could have run up a much bigger score against them. Had we done that I believe we would have put a severe dent in their on going confidence. Well having got into a winning position we did not go on to bury them. We slacked off, let them back into the game and gave them enough to salvage their confidence as opposed to going on to shatter it !

When we played at Stourbridge, the opposition were as nervous as us. In the minds of their players they KNEW that we had more than they and had we played with the confidence and belief we showed for the first hour in the game we played against them up here. I think we might again have BLOWN them AWAY.

Herein lies my belief. We are a better team than even the coaches and players believe we are.