9 April 2014

Championship Week - Sheffield Eagles: A Season That Might Not Have Been

This week at Super League Pod we're having a look at the Championship based around our trip to see in form Halifax host top of the table Leigh. As we aren't fans at Championship clubs (not yet anyway for Tom) we're looking for all the input we can get from you guys.

Here's the first offering we've received from Sheffield Eagles fan and friend of the show Scott Quibell:

Here we are five league games into the season, a slow start for the Eagles (nothing new) but the Challenge cup third round win over amateurs East Leeds seems to have kicked started our season. A 46-10 demolition of Dewsbury was followed up by a 42-24 win away at Keighley and then another points fest 70-28 against London Skolars in the challenge cup 4th round. 

We certainly seem to be finding our feet at Owlerton stadium now. It's a very small pitch so it was always going to take a bit of time to adjust, but it could have been a very different story and possibly dare I say it a new season without the Eagles at all.

Rewind to Friday 6 September 2013 and the first round of the Championship playoffs versus Halifax at Don Valley. The Eagles were well beaten that night 21 points to 6 by a very good Halifax side that kept our attacking flair very quiet, something not many sides managed to do last season. As I arrived home disappointed by the result news started filtering through that the plan for the club's new home for next season - a university sports complex on Bawtry Road just off the M1 - had fallen through and the club now had nowhere to go having exhausted all options within the city. Mark Aston went on radio Sheffield to address the fans of the now dire situation, which can be listened to here.

All in all it was an awful night that I'll never forget for all the wrong reasons. Where could the club go? The football clubs didn't want to know. Woodburn Road (Don Valley's replacement) was ruled out, the pitch at Sheffield FC's home at Dronfield was too small for Rugby League.

Then Owlerton Stadium, an option which had been ruled out due to lack of facilities, stuck their hands up and the ball was rolling. A lot of work was needed, the changing rooms needed sorting and the pitch was in a state, but if these things were sorted the RFL would give it the green light. Thankfully it all came off.

And after that disastrous night against Halifax, when all looked lost, we went on all the way to Grand Final glory which was real test of character for the lads with all the uncertainty. As they say the rest is history! Strangely the Grand final was the same day Don Valley closed it's doors forever. It wasn't ideal for Rugby League but it had been our home for 23 years it still feels a bit strange knowing I'll never be going back there. 

On we move and I went into this season full of relief, the club has had a major upheaval and I can't thank the guys down at Owlerton enough for what they have done for us. And as for this season? I couldn't care less if we finished first or much further down the table as I for one am simply glad to still have a club to support for many years to come.

Thanks for reading
Scott Quibell @ScottQuibell85

We hope you've enjoyed Scott's insight on his Eagles. If you want to share your Championship or Championship 1 early season stories then contact us on Twitter, Facebook or send it over by email to superleaguepod@gmail.com

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