Continued success?

[Herbert Latch]

I have supported the club right back to the early 60's. Was looking at an old Cas and Ponty in the library the other day, which was shortly after our second successive Wembley win in 1970. Headlines were ''Castleford make £7,300 profit - the future is very rosy.'' 7,300 (approx) was a colossal sum in those days and with the terrific side we had then, it very much looked like the team could go on and be a major force for years to come. The result - we ended up selling around 5 of our best players, including 4 who had just been part of the last Ashes winning test team, and within the next year or two became ''just another team''

Around 1977 we had another team that won two cups in a season, and again it looked like we could be a continued force, and again we sold star players and became ''just another team''. In fact this has been a continued theme all the time I have been watching. We have had our moments of glory but have never been able to sustain being a top team for any length of time, in the way the likes of Leeds, Saints and Wigan have. Even Widnes had a real sustained lengthy period of success, that lasted almost 20 years starting from 1975. Both Hull clubs did through the mid seventies to mid eighties. Bradford too throughout a lot of the SL era. The sixties was our best time where we had a pretty good team all the way from about 1964 to 1970, but you would not call us a major force apart from the last two of those years.

To be honest all the time I have been watching the club in the past, I have never ever been really confident that we could be one of the major players for a sustained number of years, and there have been reasons for that. However for the first time I am now very confident that we can be a major player for a sustained period, or for at least 5 years. A team that is continually challenging for the major honours like Leeds, Saints, Wigan and even Warrington have done over the last few seasons. One of the big boys. What do others think?

[yorky]

im in the same situation having watched cas since the days of albert lunn & ken pye etc & sadly witnessed the breaking up of all our successful teams, however i feel we are in a more sustainable situation these days, but i just hope we keep it together for a long time & the new ground will be a major factor going forward.

[ERG2012]

I have supported the club right back to the early 60's. Was looking at an old Cas and Ponty in the library the other day, which was shortly after our second successive Wembley win in 1970. Headlines were ''Castleford make £7,300 profit - the future is very rosy.'' 7,300 (approx) was a colossal sum in those days and with the terrific side we had then, it very much looked like the team could go on and be a major force for years to come. The result - we ended up selling around 5 of our best players, including 4 who had just been part of the last Ashes winning test team, and within the next year or two became ''just another team''

Around 1977 we had another team that won two cups in a season, and again it looked like we could be a continued force, and again we sold star players and became ''just another team''. In fact this has been a continued theme all the time I have been watching. We have had our moments of glory but have never been able to sustain being a top team for any length of time, in the way the likes of Leeds, Saints and Wigan have. Even Widnes had a real sustained lengthy period of success, that lasted almost 20 years starting from 1975. Both Hull clubs did through the mid seventies to mid eighties. Bradford too throughout a lot of the SL era. The sixties was our best time where we had a pretty good team all the way from about 1964 to 1970, but you would not call us a major force apart from the last two of those years.

To be honest all the time I have been watching the club in the past, I have never ever been really confident that we could be one of the major players for a sustained number of years, and there have been reasons for that. However for the first time I am now very confident that we can be a major player for a sustained period, or for at least 5 years. A team that is continually challenging for the major honours like Leeds, Saints, Wigan and even Warrington have done over the last few seasons. One of the big boys. What do others think?

£7300 like for like in today's world is around £79,000 so it puts in to perspective how well we're doing.

[gateman]

I have seen the ups and downs of our club being on the terraces when we were getting below 1,000 spectators , its as been said we being a less fashionable club have had our players and coaches lured away as soon as we have hit the big time, but one thing RED HALL as done is introduce the salary cap it looks like it is starting to work, how long it stays in place is any ones guess the big clubs will not be enjoying CAS AND WAKEFIELD being up in what they think is their rightful places, some of the EX big team supporters have been saying the level of the competition as gone down, for them I must agree for us its years since I have enjoyed a season so much, COME ON YE FORD

[Herbert Latch]

One of the reasons I was never confident for much of the past for gaining sustained success, was that we were always run by, to coin a phrase, ''the local butcher, baker and candlestick maker'' . Local small traders etc, decent folk definitely, but basically were in it just to wear the blazer and for the prestige. Very few of them knew anything about the game, or had any nous as to how to run a successful RL team.

Now we look to have a really good professional off field team. I can honestly say I don't know the likes of Ian Fulton, Steve Gill, Mark Grattan or any of the other off field staff, but they are not only doing a fantastic job, but appear to be the the types whose professionalism will not allow us to regress and will keep the club moving forward. On the field we have developed a structure, system and coaching and back room staff that now looks the envy of the rest and is self sustaining. We don't have to bust the bank to get star players as we are developing players in a most potent fashion. Making real SL players out of unknowns and in some cases players who were seemingly becoming journeymen. We have also acquired a great knack of getting just the right players at the right cost.

Incidentally we have now this season become a fashionable club too. Everyone wants to talk about us, and the media are always waxing lyrical about us. We have been the ''in team''.

Going back to that 1970 or so Pont & Cas Express, the future now really does look rosy after all, 47 years on.

[Grez]

With the exceptions of Andy Lynch retiring and Tom Holmes going to Fev for more regular game time, we're not losing players like we have in the glory years of the past. Sure, we've never finished top of the league before, either, but we've managed to retain a healthy amount of the squad and got a few key players in for the long haul.

To have achieved what we have without breaking the bank says a lot about the board, the coaching staff and the players themselves. It shows that the club is in a good place at the moment. The players want to play for us. The board want to run the place properly, the coaching staff have their finger on the pulse and the fans, as always, are loyal and loud!

I remember thinking at the start of this season that I hadn't been as excited about our prospects since the early 1990s, or possibly 1999 at a pinch. The team has done better that I'd dreamed possible and those who know me know that I've always been positive about our chances.

Can we sustain it? I think we have a better chance now than we have ever had before. We've got a settled squad, a club that's making a profit, a high quality coaching staff and a new home on the way.

But then again... this is Cas we're talking about! :-D

[Tamworth Tiger]

I have supported the club right back to the early 60's. Was looking at an old Cas and Ponty in the library the other day, which was shortly after our second successive Wembley win in 1970. Headlines were ''Castleford make £7,300 profit - the future is very rosy.'' 7,300 (approx) was a colossal sum in those days and with the terrific side we had then, it very much looked like the team could go on and be a major force for years to come. The result - we ended up selling around 5 of our best players, including 4 who had just been part of the last Ashes winning test team, and within the next year or two became ''just another team''

Around 1977 we had another team that won two cups in a season, and again it looked like we could be a continued force, and again we sold star players and became ''just another team''. In fact this has been a continued theme all the time I have been watching. We have had our moments of glory but have never been able to sustain being a top team for any length of time, in the way the likes of Leeds, Saints and Wigan have. Even Widnes had a real sustained lengthy period of success, that lasted almost 20 years starting from 1975. Both Hull clubs did through the mid seventies to mid eighties. Bradford too throughout a lot of the SL era. The sixties was our best time where we had a pretty good team all the way from about 1964 to 1970, but you would not call us a major force apart from the last two of those years.

To be honest all the time I have been watching the club in the past, I have never ever been really confident that we could be one of the major players for a sustained number of years, and there have been reasons for that. However for the first time I am now very confident that we can be a major player for a sustained period, or for at least 5 years. A team that is continually challenging for the major honours like Leeds, Saints, Wigan and even Warrington have done over the last few seasons. One of the big boys. What do others think?

Haven't gone through all of what you said, but I will.
What I do recall over those years was that Cas were consistently in the top flight along with only Leeds, Wire and Saints
Bradford, Wigan , Hull, Wakefield , Hull KR, Salford, Huddersfield,
Leigh etc. All did the relegation walk of shame before we did and don't forget the length of time all those teams waited for their trophies. Wigan were the most successful once they went full time and won lots of pots against part timers but went bust in the process, Hull and Huddersfield saved themselves with £1 million merger payoffs as well as free stadia while we got relegated from second bottom on the back of Wigan cheating the salary cap second time round.
We are a truly amazing club in the best Rugby League community in the world. Now is our time and our time has only just begun

[Oldcasman]

im in the same situation having watched cas since the days of albert lunn & ken pye etc & sadly witnessed the breaking up of all our successful teams, however i feel we are in a more sustainable situation these days, but i just hope we keep it together for a long time & the new ground will be a major factor going forward.

I think kenny Pye was one the best props I have seen entertainment wise when he set off on a run there were usually 2-3 players left on the floor how he used to bounce them off was unbelievable and Albert Lunn was terrible when he first started and turned into a really good player and then ended up the groundsman them were the days lol

[RonnieGibbs'forearm]

Powell is paramount to continued success. The new ground would help too I imagine. GF success would be huge too in laying a foundation.
What I hear is that Grattan is in line to step in when Gill steps down (which if it is to be believed he wants to do sooner rather than later). And what I hear about Grattan is not massively positive. Anyone else hear this?

[old cas lass]

Powell is paramount to continued success. The new ground would help too I imagine. GF success would be huge too in laying a foundation.
What I hear is that Grattan is in line to step in when Gill steps down (which if it is to be believed he wants to do sooner rather than later). And what I hear about Grattan is not massively positive. Anyone else hear this?

Not heard anything about Steve stepping down, as for grattan, no thanks.
Hope Steve is CEO for many years to come.

[gateman]

oldcasman , we must have been coming down the lane at about the same time, I too can remember Kenny Pye and Albert Lunn can you remember the try that Albert scored at Thrum Hall there was 6 inch of snow on the field we were in those days bumbling along at the bottom of the league they were the high flighers ???

[usacas]

im in the same situation having watched cas since the days of albert lunn & ken pye etc & sadly witnessed the breaking up of all our successful teams, however i feel we are in a more sustainable situation these days, but i just hope we keep it together for a long time & the new ground will be a major factor going forward.

I think kenny Pye was one the best props I have seen entertainment wise when he set off on a run there were usually 2-3 players left on the floor how he used to bounce them off was unbelievable and Albert Lunn was terrible when he first started and turned into a really good player and then ended up the groundsman them were the days lol

I know Kenny Pye was a big lad, but wasn't he scrum half?

[duke street 10]

Hope Powell stays,Gill stays...and Grattan stays where he is... not heard good reports either,likely to drive good people away from the club than attract them.

[orrsome]

im in the same situation having watched cas since the days of albert lunn & ken pye etc & sadly witnessed the breaking up of all our successful teams, however i feel we are in a more sustainable situation these days, but i just hope we keep it together for a long time & the new ground will be a major factor going forward.

I think kenny Pye was one the best props I have seen entertainment wise when he set off on a run there were usually 2-3 players left on the floor how he used to bounce them off was unbelievable and Albert Lunn was terrible when he first started and turned into a really good player and then ended up the groundsman them were the days lol

I know Kenny Pye was a big lad, but wasn't he scrum half?

Kenny started as a scrum half but he put a great deal of weight on later in his playing career and went to prop. I knew Kenny personally as we both worked at Glasshoughton Coking plant along with Gary Powell - Darryl's Dad. Kenny was certainly 'big' enough for prop but I recall he was only typical scrum half height at about 5ft 7ins.

[Robbo]

Come on look where we were a few years ago.
A club sent down twice and Jack Fulton throwing money in to support a CEO who in my opinion was not up to the task.

Hence why I campaigned so hard to have things changed. Jack allowed things to go on too long because friendship clouded his vision in my opinion.
That's all the past. It left us 2.5 m in debt and now paying 60k a year in interest until we can repay that money.

What ever you think of the new team they have stabilised the club. I have not agreed with everything but that's healthy debate and being a "critical friend"............I still feel corporate Governance is weak.

As for comparing I can understand the view and I too lived through this period. My father sent a "wreath" when they Sold Alan H to the BOD.
However the numbers game is very different. The Sky figure is now well on the way to 2 million a year in cash.
That was never there and players were sold to balance the books.

I feel we could be a force for a few years. I would have liked a further signing but that's DP`s call ( we hope)......a big strong lad ( a fair few spring to mind from Cas).
Right now lets bask in the glory and the sensational season we are having. We may never see it again. It has been fabulous.

Robbo

[Lofthouse Tiger]

Can I just ask why we are paying 60k in interest per year Robbo?

Who are we paying it to?

How much is/are the loans?

Who set the terms of the loan/interest payments?

It seems to me that we must either have a massive loan or we are paying ridiculous amounts of interest.

[RonnieGibbs'forearm]

Come on look where we were a few years ago.
A club sent down twice and Jack Fulton throwing money in to support a CEO who in my opinion was not up to the task.

Hence why I campaigned so hard to have things changed. Jack allowed things to go on too long because friendship clouded his vision in my opinion.
That's all the past. It left us 2.5 m in debt and now paying 60k a year in interest until we can repay that money.

What ever you think of the new team they have stabilised the club. I have not agreed with everything but that's healthy debate and being a "critical friend"............I still feel corporate Governance is weak.

As for comparing I can understand the view and I too lived through this period. My father sent a "wreath" when they Sold Alan H to the BOD.
However the numbers game is very different. The Sky figure is now well on the way to 2 million a year in cash.
That was never there and players were sold to balance the books.

I feel we could be a force for a few years. I would have liked a further signing but that's DP`s call ( we hope)......a big strong lad ( a fair few spring to mind from Cas).
Right now lets bask in the glory and the sensational season we are having. We may never see it again. It has been fabulous.

Robbo

That's the crux of it Robbo. If we are good enough to win the league in the manner we have, we have the best coach in the northern hemisphere, average gates up significantly, potential new ground and all the extra revenue streams that entails on the horizon, why do we still all say: we may never see it again?

[tigerfeat]

I have supported the club right back to the early 60's. Was looking at an old Cas and Ponty in the library the other day, which was shortly after our second successive Wembley win in 1970. Headlines were ''Castleford make £7,300 profit - the future is very rosy.'' 7,300 (approx) was a colossal sum in those days and with the terrific side we had then, it very much looked like the team could go on and be a major force for years to come. The result - we ended up selling around 5 of our best players, including 4 who had just been part of the last Ashes winning test team, and within the next year or two became ''just another team''

Around 1977 we had another team that won two cups in a season, and again it looked like we could be a continued force, and again we sold star players and became ''just another team''. In fact this has been a continued theme all the time I have been watching. We have had our moments of glory but have never been able to sustain being a top team for any length of time, in the way the likes of Leeds, Saints and Wigan have. Even Widnes had a real sustained lengthy period of success, that lasted almost 20 years starting from 1975. Both Hull clubs did through the mid seventies to mid eighties. Bradford too throughout a lot of the SL era. The sixties was our best time where we had a pretty good team all the way from about 1964 to 1970, but you would not call us a major force apart from the last two of those years.

To be honest all the time I have been watching the club in the past, I have never ever been really confident that we could be one of the major players for a sustained number of years, and there have been reasons for that. However for the first time I am now very confident that we can be a major player for a sustained period, or for at least 5 years. A team that is continually challenging for the major honours like Leeds, Saints, Wigan and even Warrington have done over the last few seasons. One of the big boys. What do others think?

Haven't gone through all of what you said, but I will.
What I do recall over those years was that Cas were consistently in the top flight along with only Leeds, Wire and Saints
Bradford, Wigan , Hull, Wakefield , Hull KR, Salford, Huddersfield,
Leigh etc. All did the relegation walk of shame before we did and don't forget the length of time all those teams waited for their trophies. Wigan were the most successful once they went full time and won lots of pots against part timers but went bust in the process, Hull and Huddersfield saved themselves with £1 million merger payoffs as well as free stadia while we got relegated from second bottom on the back of Wigan cheating the salary cap second time round.
We are a truly amazing club in the best Rugby League community in the world. Now is our time and our time has only just begun

Good words my friend were at the start of a great time hope i keep going a few more years to savour every minute of it ...

[Nu Shooze]

We have never seemed to have the wherewithal for a sustained push. My fear is that will continue to be the case if we do not get a new ground sharpish. The RFL are still very much into expansion and with Toronto likely to make SL next year and talks of a second Canadian club and English cities joining the game who knows where this will lead.

They're talking franchises again by 2020 and the longer we are without up-to-date facilities, the more vulnerable we are.

[drleftie]

We have never seemed to have the wherewithal for a sustained push. My fear is that will continue to be the case if we do not get a new ground sharpish. The RFL are still very much into expansion and with Toronto likely to make SL next year and talks of a second Canadian club and English cities joining the game who knows where this will lead.

They're talking franchises again by 2020 and the longer we are without up-to-date facilities, the more vulnerable we are.

Agree though they'd be hard pressed not to give us a franchise if we continue to play like we are.