Why not Newcastle?

[clarency]

As an Australian having a decent understanding of the history of Rugby League... what happened with Newcastle?

Where they ever a possibility to have a strong RL presence? Why isn't there one?

I see they have themselves a pro RU team.

Are they a reasonable target for expansion?

 

[Harrigan]

They have a team in the area who were in SL at one stage but it never really took off and they struggled to get more than a few thousand to games.

 

[Harrigan]

Actually, they've rebranded to Newcastle Thunder this year and moved into the city.

 

[roughyed8]

There was a Pro team up there for a couple of years in the 1930s but it just folded and there was nothing up there and soccer dominates the sporting scene, when Superleague started in the 1990s Sir John Hall wanted a franchise on the back of some good crowds for exhibition games and a couple of internationals that showed interest in the game. He was unsuccessful and ploughed his cash into the newly pro Union side.
Gateshead Thunder came along a couple of years later part owned by Shane Richardson, the initial team lasted a couple of years before a controversial merger with Hull F.C , a new fan owned Thunder was formed and they have been knocking around the lower reaches of the league since, as another poster said they have been taken over by the new owner of the Union team changed their name and moved into share Kingston Park with them.

 

[roughyedspud]

newcastle thunder should go good this year...infact im tipping them to win league one

 

[bowes]

At the turn of the century South Shields joined the pro league and Wallsend joined the Cumberland league. Travelling was too much for Wallsend and the club's voted South Shields out because they didn't want to travel (in those days clubs got kicked out regularly pretty much arbitrarily as they had too many pro clubs)

Newcastle joined in the 30s, think they got voted out as well after three seasons.

Gateshead were just in SL for the 1999 season and came I think it was 6th before effectively relocating to Hull when the established club were about to fold and taking them over. The new club were doing well and got promoted about five years ago and finished mid table in the Championship but folded and had to reform at the bottom again.

 

[Evil Homer]

Gateshead/Newcastle Thunder is a crazy story from 1999-present.

 

[The Partisan]

Is this the Newcastle - on -Tyne that hosted test matches in 1909 and 1911 ?


If so i wonder why a professional team was not formed prior to or not long after these years.


(That said Tests were played in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh at the same time and unfortunately didn't produce any significant interest / activity in the game. Shame eh !)

 

[Sydney Knight]

They should get the cast of Geordie Shore to promote the games.

 

[CC_Roosters]

newcastle are now in partnership with the falcons union team. Similar to the rhinos and yorkshire rugby except in reverse for the major partner

geordies are a passionate bunch so if the thunder can work away at being competitive and break into thr championship again they can get a decent niche following and definitely as a summer sport when there is nothing else being offered live.

I cannot fathom the short sighted self interest bullshit that permeates through this sport. Imagine voting out clubs because heartland teams didnt want to travel! Not exactly looking to flourish in the early days then