by Henry Taylor @HTaylor2013
Exclusive to the London Faithful Blog, we bring you an interview with the London Skolars owner and non-excecutive CEO, Hector McNeil.
London Skolars are a semi-professional rugby league side based in Haringey, North London, and they compete in the Kingstone Press League 1 at the New River Stadium. They are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year and season tickets can be bought from skolarsrl.com.
McNeil was satisfied with the Skolars' performance last Friday against the Wigan Warriors saying, "I thought it was solid. They [the warriors] played the Aussie schoolboys recently and got beaten narrowly and had some first teamers in [in the squad on Friday]." The Skolars CEO also stated that the League 1 club had only been training for 4 weeks before the game.
I asked the Skolars CEO what his expectations were for the club's 2015 League 1 season after a disappointing 2014 campaign finishing 7th and he stayed, "I hope for playoffs. 2014 was a transition due to player turnover and tough playing at Enfield so not too disappointing." McNeil also said the Skolars are still a young team.
When asked about the future of the club, the capital club owner was was very optimistic and excited about where his club will be in the near-future. "The future is very solid. We have over 400 players at the club now from u7s up. We have a lot of juniors playing first team. We have a full time college set up at Southgate and Barnet u19s and want to move that to be a tier 3 academy."
The Skolars have recently had a £4m renovation on their stadium (now owned by Fusion) with new floodlights and a state-of-the-art 4g pitch installed) but McNeil plans bigger and better things for the London club. "The stadium will be the best in the league and perhaps in the Championships [Championship and League 1] and we get our own club house to use 7 days a week and a brand new state-of-the-art gym."
McNeil also commented on the annual Capital Challenge which is held at the HAC ground in the city centre and traditionally was London Skolars v London Broncos but now Skolars v Wigan Warriors select XIII. "The Capital Challenge is a unique RL event and mostly due to the HAC and it will stay there. Overtime a stand would be great."
The annual London derby between the Skolars and the new-look Broncos is now called the London Clash and is being held at the renovated New River Stadium this Saturday (24th January). Tickets can be bought from skolarsrl.com in advanced for just £10. Tickets at the ticket office will cost £15 on the day.
Exclusive to the London Faithful Blog, we bring you an interview with the London Skolars owner and non-excecutive CEO, Hector McNeil.
London Skolars are a semi-professional rugby league side based in Haringey, North London, and they compete in the Kingstone Press League 1 at the New River Stadium. They are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year and season tickets can be bought from skolarsrl.com.
McNeil was satisfied with the Skolars' performance last Friday against the Wigan Warriors saying, "I thought it was solid. They [the warriors] played the Aussie schoolboys recently and got beaten narrowly and had some first teamers in [in the squad on Friday]." The Skolars CEO also stated that the League 1 club had only been training for 4 weeks before the game.
I asked the Skolars CEO what his expectations were for the club's 2015 League 1 season after a disappointing 2014 campaign finishing 7th and he stayed, "I hope for playoffs. 2014 was a transition due to player turnover and tough playing at Enfield so not too disappointing." McNeil also said the Skolars are still a young team.
When asked about the future of the club, the capital club owner was was very optimistic and excited about where his club will be in the near-future. "The future is very solid. We have over 400 players at the club now from u7s up. We have a lot of juniors playing first team. We have a full time college set up at Southgate and Barnet u19s and want to move that to be a tier 3 academy."
The Skolars have recently had a £4m renovation on their stadium (now owned by Fusion) with new floodlights and a state-of-the-art 4g pitch installed) but McNeil plans bigger and better things for the London club. "The stadium will be the best in the league and perhaps in the Championships [Championship and League 1] and we get our own club house to use 7 days a week and a brand new state-of-the-art gym."
McNeil also commented on the annual Capital Challenge which is held at the HAC ground in the city centre and traditionally was London Skolars v London Broncos but now Skolars v Wigan Warriors select XIII. "The Capital Challenge is a unique RL event and mostly due to the HAC and it will stay there. Overtime a stand would be great."
The annual London derby between the Skolars and the new-look Broncos is now called the London Clash and is being held at the renovated New River Stadium this Saturday (24th January). Tickets can be bought from skolarsrl.com in advanced for just £10. Tickets at the ticket office will cost £15 on the day.