Boots 'n' All caught up with Championship side Blackpool Panthers ahead of their cup clash with Leeds.
Club raising rugby league's profile in Blackpool
After years in the doldrums, rugby league in Blackpool is on the rise once again, in the form of the Blackpool Panthers.
The Panthers are currently second in the Championship One table, trailing Hunslets on points difference, and have won 11 games on the trot, their most recent a 48-12 victory over Doncaster. That's quite the transformation for a club who went 45 games without a win from July 2006 and April 2008.
"We've gotten rid of the tag of being the joke team, which obviously was because of the losing run," Panthers coach Martin Crompton told
Boots 'N' All. "We've made massive strides as a club. We've got better investment, two full-time development officers; we're trying to build the profile of the Panthers in Blackpool but also to create more awareness about the game.
"I think we're doing a good job. Obviously it takes time but if you look at where this club is now compared to three years ago, there's a massive difference."
Goal
Crompton has assembled an experienced side, including players such as former Salford and Halifax centre Danny Halliwell and prop forward Andy Hobson, who is still going strong.
"We've got some good young lads here as well, a good mix all over the park. Our experience helps the youth and their enthusiasm helps us," said Hobson.
"We set ourselves a goal at the start of the season to go unbeaten at home, and once we got that going we just kicked on from there. We want to set our stall out and make a point to everyone else that Blackpool isn't the club that it was, where you'd get an easy ride. People now know that when they play Blackpool they're in for a tough afternoon."
The Panthers' achievements have been overshadowed by the form of the town's footballers, who last Sunday clinched a place in the Championship playoffs. The Seasiders remain in contention for promotion to the Premier League, and there is the same opportunity for the Panthers if they can maintain their winning streak and finish top of Championship One.
Occasion
However, this weekend they are concentrating on the Challenge Cup, and a trip to Leeds Rhinos on Friday night, where the Panthers know their winning streak is likely to come to an end.
"I don't think it's too bad if you lose your winning streak against the Leeds Rhinos. I'd sooner have that way than losing against any of the teams in our league," said Compton. "It's going to be a fantastic occasion for us and it cannot come quick enough."
Blackpool won their first ever trophy last year when they lifted the Northern Rail 9's Cup on home soil. They're after a bigger prize this season.
