Official West Hartlepool RFC

Bill Sykes,

What do you think of Mikeys teeth?

Wonder what league Tynedale would be in with no Falcon and only their "home grown talent"

The same league we are now probably - promoted into this league 9 years ago just after professionalism began having won the league, winning all games with no falcons players and been top half N3N since.

You seem to be searching for something that isn't there. If players want to join the club who don't disrupt the set up and don't cost anything why would we turn them away? If they aren't good enough they don't get picked. If they are good enough and show commitment to our club they get picked. We don't have any players who play once or twice and then leave.

"Find it difficult to comprehend how Tynedale can claim to flourish as AMATEURS when they have 14 of the Falcons acadamy on loan to them"

Again I mentioned this earlier - of the 14 nine have been at the club for at least 2 seasons and 6 of those played for Tynedale before they were picked up by the Falcons. A few sentences in a press release won't always give you the full story. I really can't see what the problem is with the set up. Maybe you feel that Myers has been forced to go to Mowden instead of staying at West - I don't know anything about that, but believe me neither Tynedale or any of the players we have have been forced into anything. Quite a few of the lads turned down Blaydon and chose Tynedale because they didn't want the weekend travel on top of their A league travel during the week.

I also think the 'I wonder what league...if...' is a dangerous question to raise given events in the last 12 years and even prior to that in the 'amateur' era.

I am sorry to disappoint everyone, but there is nothing sinister or murky or underhand or incestuous at play at all. We benefit from a relationship with an ex player and from having a highly respected head coach which benefits us as a club, the players as players and individuals and the Falcons as a development vehicle.

It isn't a dictatorship, nobody tells us who we can and can't pick - We had 10 Falcons last season (not all of whom were 1st choice) and only had 2 occassions where players were withdrawn - 1 of which was when our 10 was required for a premiership game on the friday night when we had a league game on the Saturday. We had enough strength in the squad to accomodate that though. Our biggest problem is the amount of choice the players have - the biggest withdrawal of players is when they are selected for 7s duty - we lost 6 players (4 of whom falcons) to the Kooga Whalers (selected by the DMP coach the week we played DMP in the league) trip to Dubai for 9 days last season!

Some sinister thoughts going on here regarding Tynedale i think, not botting the National league sides but you do have to take your hat off to the set up at Tynedale, after my stint at Blaydon 2 years ago we played them at the Crow trees, they were a young set of local lads who at that time to my knowledge didnt have many if any Falcons players in, the fact that the club has established a relationship with the premier club is surely a good thing for local rugby as it allows the likes of Myres and Young to flourish and gain experiance, granted they may be better off at West getting 1st team games, unless playing 1st team at the respected National league club.

Its Hard to get an accademy player to play for your club as us at Horden tried to get a similar thing going with James Isaacson about 8 years ago, we were bascially told where to go, still he snook a couple of games in for our U20's (one against a Rovers side) only for Stabs to see him and make him sweat a bit!

WPA i do agree that it apears once a player leaves to go to play accademy rugby and get "loaned" out to higer level teams, it seems you dont get them back to play for the home club even if the player wants to, that part of it is a shame!

As for the AMATEURS thing, i think we all know that if you disregard the Falcons players you still pay certain people who play up there, but thats the way the game is now, i dont see a problem with it!

What hole? I think you speak - or at least read a different language to the rest of us.

Wonder what league West would have be in if Falcons let us have our own "home grown talent" back.
Apart from Mikey and Aaron, how many other lads have gone their way? I can name Mark Laycock and Gareth Kerr. Any others?

Sean Dougal (Falcons 18's / played for Ireland Colts in 2006/2007 season).

Bill: the one you are digging for yourself.



Post Edited (07-08-07 15:39)

You have a strangely conspiratorial, insular and negative view of the way that rugby and rugby clubs work. One day you may accept that others have opinions and knowledge that are as valid and valuable as yours.

In answer to the other question - I think Mikey's teeth will be a proud and welcome addition to Tynedale.

Okay. Let's end it then. I bow to your club's greater league position and your obvious senior position in the game.

However, My view is still:

Would hate to be a Tynedale supporter. Newcastle Falcons 2nd XV.

And I am still asking the question:

What is the provision for either Young or Myers getting some first team rugby with West if they're not getting selected for their "foster" clubs?



One is a simple statement and the other a simple question.

Dear Tynedale (Bill Sykes), DMP (John Parkinson), John Fletcher
cc: WPA

Can we have our own "home grown talent" back please, if they don't make the Tynedale and DMP 1st XVs, please?
Bill Sykes says it's ok with him.
So how about it?

Looking at the DMP new signings, there is going to be lots of competition for places for Aaron and Gareth Foreman ...

Jon Benson - Fly Half - ex. Otley, Doncaster & Rotherham
Rob Stewart - Scrum Half - ex. Darlington
Dan Miller - Prop - ex. Darlington
Chris Clark - Full Back, Wing - ex. Bradford-on-Avon & Newcastle University
James Clark - Centre - ex. Bradford-on-Avon & Newcastle University
Ian Hodgson - Centre - ex. Barnard Castle School & Darlington
Shaun Cassidy - Back Row - ex. Leodiensians
Paul Vinnicombe - Back Row - ex. Blaydon
Christopher Stewart - Prop, Lock - ex. Blaydon
Aaron Myers - Back Row - ex. West Hartlepool
Tom Wilkinson - Full Back - ex. Morpeth
Martin Featherstone - Centre - ex. Harrogate
Ciaran McNicholas - Lock, Back Row - ex. Percy Park
Gareth Foreman - Wing,Centre - ex. Hartlepool Rovers

What about a boxing match between Bill Sykes and W Park Allotment?

The winner gets Michael Young in their team.

Wonder if Dave Garside would promote it?

Aaron, Mikey and Sean all excellent young players, but have you bothered to watch the other youth that is coming on in West's set up, some brilliant prospect's played at under 16 & 18 level last season. I am sure a lot of them will prosper in the Stags and Ams teams in the not too distant future.

Your statement is true and correct Headsupwestie.

There's some fantastic kids (sorry - young men) at the age groups you mention. Couple last year's U15's who are also county champions & the younger teams - the future is rosy.

This has been an interesting if unexpected debate. Could someone in the know explain how players registrations work these days?

Presumably Aaaron and Mike are registered to both Falcons and their new clubs at the same time. Or do they have to be re-registered everytime they move between one club or another?

They will be registered to Tynedale and DMP. If the Falcons wanted them for their first team then I'm assuming they'd have to be re-registered to Falcons.
That wouldn't apply for Academy and 7s tournaments etc.

Bill,

I'm glad you like his teeth.

Do Tynedale have any other players with massive teeth or will Mikey be alone and the odd one out?