Salford - Past, Present & Red Devilution

Salford are announcing themselves as the most talked about club in Rugby League, and in fairness they have put themselves in the news plenty in the last 12 months since Dr Marwan Koukash saved the cash strapped club from a winding up petition.

The business and racehorse magnate has certainly looked to put his money where his mouth is and has backed up his bold ambitions with player recruitment. He has also been on a charm offensive with supporters and the media, both with his own club and across the sport. He has been available to TV and radio, accessible on Twitter and accommodating to supporters groups.

Before we look more into the brave new venture for the renamed Red Devils, we'll look a bit into their past, including a look at Les Diables Rouges that took the sport by storm in the 1930s.

Glory Days
Salford have had two real glory periods to date - the 1930s and the 1970s.

At the start of the 20th Century, they moved into The Willows and made the game's first £100 signing, in what was to be a nearly decade for Salford. They were runners up three times in the league and four times in the Challenge Cup between 1900 and 1907, before finally tasting glory in the 1913/1914 Premiership Final.

League Legend Lance Todd became Salford coach in 1928 and added Gus Risman to his young team a year later, putting the pieces in place for a glorious period for the club. Five Lancashire Leagues, four Lancashire Cups, three Premiership wins and their only Challenge Cup success to date followed in the decade up to World War II. 

So impressive was the club in this era that they were chosen to help grow the fledgling Rugby XIII in France as the first British team to tour the country in 1934. They won all of the six matches on tour and along the way picked up the nickname Les Diables Rouges - The Red Devils.

Glory evaded the club until entertainment entrepreneur Brian Snape and his Willows Variety Club business model, with floodlit Friday night rugby boosting crowds and allowing them to assemble 'The Quality Street Gang'. This time a transfer record fee to convert British Lions captain David Watkins to League was the key signing that the successful side of the early-to-mid-1970s was forged around. Their final Lancashire Cup win preceded 2 Premierships and a Floodlit Trophy title in this era.

Harsh financial times met the promotion and relegation era with Salford being a real yo-yo club in the 1980s, before missing out on the first Super League campaign as the league was restructured and rejigged. Again they became somewhat of a yo-yo club, then failed to prosper despite gaining licence status in the expanded 14 team era and moving to their new Barton home. Dr Koukash will be looking to the example of the 30s and latterly the Brian Snape years for inspiration with his new Salford.

Greatest Games
The first truly great day for the club has to be that 1914 Premiership Final triumph against Huddersfield's 'team of all talents' that had dominated the sport before World War l, leading the league that year too and being heavily favoured over cash strapped Salford.

It was a classic encounter of attack versus defence, Huddersfield's free scoring top point scorers against Salford's mean top defence from the season's play. 

Defence won out despite a lot of Fartown second half pressure, 5-3 with winger Bernard Mesley converting Charlie Rees' try to take a lead they would stubbornly hold on to. 

The tactical preparations of team captain Willie Thomas were heralded as a key factor in Salford's ability to keep out the Huddersfield attack. In a rather pioneering fashion he went along to watch the second semi final to take notes on their opponents and figuring out a way to dominate scrum possession to take home the trophy.

As sweet as their first Premiership was, their second 19 years later would have been all the sweeter as it came against local derby rivals Swinton. This wasn't the first title of the golden era of the 1930s, a Lancashire Cup was won the year before, but this set win Salford up as the best Rugby League team in the country for nearly a decade.

This time Salford took a first half lead thanks to good attacking play by Emlyn Jenkins and Gus Risman creating two early tries, as well as Swinton's goal kicker Bob Scott being off form.

A late first half try meant Salford lead 8-5 at the interval. A Gus Risman penalty came between two concerted efforts on the Salford line. Swinton came close more than once before a late kick chase saw Jack Feetham capitalise on a Swinton era and seal the game, Risman converting for his 100th goal of the season, the first Salford player to reach that figure, to cap off a 15-5 victory.

The 1938 Challenge Cup Final didn't go in to the record books as a classic, but will be regarded as such in Salford, as it is the club's only victory of the famous trophy to date. One journalist at the time described the post-match celebrations as being more memorable than the actual play. Rugby League historian Graham Morris described it as a dull dour battle of attrition. Match winner Albert Gear couldn't recall receiving a whole pass all match, saying the forwards and halves cancelled each other out. Not one for the ages, clearly.

It all came down to the last play of the game. Full back Harold Osbaldestin hoofed a clearing kick down field  and Barrow's Alec Troup made a hash of it, wildly offloading the ball, with Gear nipping in to poke the ball forward with his foot and gather on the bounce to touch down. Captain Risman's missed conversion ran out the clock and the Salford celebrations began. 

The iconic image of Risman carrying the cup on the shoulders of his team mates, cigarette tucked behind his ear, smile on his face, endures for Salford fans to this day.

Unfortunately limited online copy and video coverage means we can't detail any of the seminal victories of Salford's second glory spell in the first half of the 1970s that brought two Championship titles in the Grand Final-less era. This means another legendary Welsh Union convert, diminutive David Watkins, doesn't get the spotlight he might deserve in this piece. It also means we can't focus on the glorious 1974-75 Floodlit Trophy 0-0 final with Warrington at The Willows - for the record, Salford won the replay at Wilderspool 10-5.

For Salford fans of a later generation, the John Wilkinson generation, the greatest match is likely the 1996 Challenge Cup defeat of the all conquering Wigan side that had lifted the cup eight times in a row and were unbeaten in 43 cup ties. It was the Wilkinson's own personal highlight of The Willows when the grand old stadium was closed in 2011.

A Salford side, fresh from glory of winning the second tier league title but disappointment of not finding a spot in the new Super League competition, that had a strong Wigan theme to it toppled the champions 26-16 almost 18 years ago to the day of posting this piece. Wigan legend Andy Gregory coached the side that figured a number of Wigan old boys, including testimonial denied Steve Hampson with a grudge to bear and a point to prove. 18 of Salford's points came from Wigan old boys Scott Naylor and Steve Blakeley, Blakeley winning the man of the match award.

Flowing attacking rugby and pacey breaks from deep saw Salford take advantage of sloppy Wigan defence. Blakeley and Mark Lee were regular threats against a slow and lumbering Wigan forward pack. In truth, it could have been worse, Salford having two further second half tries ruled out for forwards passes.

Our memories

We've talked about some famous days for Salford fans, what about for us two, non-Salford fans:

Mark - I've not yet watched a Wigan game at the new stadium, but I did go to The Willows a number of times. Most of the time I saw Wigan win, more often than not comfortably. The game that sticks in my mind though was my first ever visit there in 2001 - a Wigan loss.

It was a sunny and warm May Sunday afternoon, Wigan's last outing had been a home thumping of Wakefield and Salford were missing a number of first team players. To be honest I expected a big win, and at the half, leading 22-12, I was enjoying the sunshine and some of my uncle's summer flask favourite, fresh orange and lemonade. All was good for this young Wigan fan. I was also a fan of the double size steps on the terracing, a feature that made The Willows one of my favoured away grounds, meaning I could see all the actions without ducking around those in front of me...

...then young prop Ricky Bibey, with a reputation for hits as big as his physique, came on. He bounced off a few players, then tried to take the head off first half try scorer Michael Hancock. It was one of the first red cards I'd seen live and one of the clearest you could get.

I thought 12 man Wigan had won it for us fans when David Hodgson scored a long range effort, but Nick Pinkney scored a hat-trick, with Graham Holroyd converted his third from the touchline to make it 30-30 in the final 10 minutes. Holroyd kicked a painful drop goal a few minutes from time, Wigan couldn't pick themselves up to match it, and the game was lost. I never quite expected much from Bibey after that day, I wouldn't have believed he would go on to win two Challenge Cups.

Tom - My only trip as an away fan to Salford came last season. Memories, however, are hazy due to it being my stag do, last May. 

We were spending the weekend in Manchester and the festivities began with a Friday night trip to watch the Bulls play the Reds. Of the dozen or so of us, only Mark and I had anything more than a passing interest in rugby league, so whilst they huddled out of the rain in the away end drinking, Mark and I enjoyed the action on the field. As well as drinking, I was attracting attention from the locals - since I'm the better part of eighteen stone, have a shiny bald head and was dressed as a cheerleader in pink hotpants. One Salford fan even asked me to pose for a photo with his kids!

The ale was flowing and the Bulls were pulling away quite nicely after a ropey first twenty minutes. I remember having a lovely time watching the game. What I don't remember was verbally abusing Vic Mauro (who had been tenuously linked with the Bulls before signing with Salford) during a break in play where Chris Nero was pretty seriously injured. It takes a lot to offend away fans in my experience, but apparently I was able to do it with a reference to Mauro's weight and a four letter word. 

The second thing I have a vague recollection of is talking animatedly with another bulls fan whilst stood by the hoardings when the Bulls scored from a quick break. In the ensuing celebrations my new best friend knocked my full can of bitter out of my hands and over the hoardings...and onto a disabled gentleman. Luckily he saw the funny side to my furious drunken apologies!

For the record, the Bulls won 28-7.


The Devilution
Knowing what we now know about Salford's history, surely it was only a matter of time before another chairman came on board with big ideas and deep pockets he was willing to spend from.

With the club on the brink, in came Dr Marwan Koukash. He was enticed into the game by Nigel Wood, although his growing challenges and criticisms of the RFL's leadership of our game may mean 'the fat controller' wishes he hadn't encouraged him.

Dr Koukash's first season in charge ended with the wooden spoon, thanks in part to an extra man popping up against Castleford to defend the line in the dying stages. However, he showed he meant business early on with the appointment of former Bradford, Wigan and Great Britain coach Brian Noble a headline move.

Record shattering attempts to sign Sam Tomkins and Sonny-Bill Williams didn't come off for the Doc, but on 5 September 2013 the Devilution started to take shape. That day, Dr Koukash announced 8 new signings to the club, including headline names Rangi Chase, Tim Smith and Gareth Hock. He declared that the days of Salford being a selling club, losing players to the top clubs, was over and the newly reclaimed Red Devils would be fighting to be a match for those clubs the likes of Stefan Ratchford and Matty Smith had been lost to. His aim - to make Salford the biggest club in the land within a few short years.

The immediate focus for Salford is to be competitive on the field. Dr Koukash hopes for a top four finish, and seems to be demanding a top six finish minimum. In all, 14 new faces have been added to help Brian Noble achieve his goals. We're sure you're all aware of the names by now. In have come champion players with winning experience like Adrian Morley, Francis Meli and most recently Harrison Hansen. Flair and creativity is expected from Chase and Smith. A mix of experience (Steve Rapira, Junior Sa'u) and young talent (Jake Mullaney, Lama Tasi) have come from down under too. Hock and Tony Puletua will be expected to bring the x-factor to what last season was a workmanlike back row. 

On the field the Devilution is ready to spring in to life. Off the field there are still some questions. We don't know much about the inner-runnings of the club, but obviously its important that Koukash gets financial support from corporate avenues so that any exit he may make will still see a sustainable franchise left behind, or this could be all for nothing in the end. 

Official season ticket sales figures aren't clear to find, but the suggestion is the 7,000 to 9,000 average gates the doctor spoke of needing to see for the club to build seem a way off yet, unfortunately. Also, a recent plea for business club membership suggests interest at that level hasn't been what was hoped, although its something all Super League clubs should and will constantly be pushing for more of, so maybe we shouldn't read too much into that.

In the long term, Dr Koukash plans to turn the areas surrounding the stadium in Barton into a destination, capable of bringing funding in to the club outside of the rugby team. Key to those plans might be buying an interest in the stadium, something Dr Koukash announced intention of doing just after buying the club, but something that has yet to come to fruition. Were Dr Koukash to get the stadium, or an alternative stadium, for himself the plans are to develop an entertainment complex with hotel, casino, bars and intriguingly a water park. The development would also include a new training base, showing that his rugby league team is still core to his visions.

He may be brash. He may be outspoken. He may be challenging the established order. These may not be bad things of course. One thing we think everyone can agree on is he has brought a new level of interest to Salford Rugby League. He has added another genuine contender to the Super League trophy race. He has built another side that will spend to the cap and invest seriously in youth development. These are all things that have to progress rugby league in this country, and one thing that shines through is that Dr Koukash has fallen in love with this great game that we all already knew was the best sport around.



We discuss our opinions on the Devilution and look forward to the first game of this new era for Salford in Episode 4 of Super League Pod...

Thanks to Gaz Shaw and the guys at the Devil In The Detail podcast for their help in guiding us towards putting this piece together. We hope they feel we've covered their beloved club well!