2022-23 Championship - Season Predictions

We had a great day at Wharfedale. The sun was shining and the hospitality was good.

We had a wander over to the shed. They were so pleased to see us. A couple of the sheep worriers got a bit descriptive but all in good fun.

I heard Verbickas giving an account of why they lost to the Club President and Chairman. You can't build anything on delusion.

BE,

We are at Wharfedale tomorrow. I will give them your regards and let you know how we get on with the locals during the match. Should be entertaining! 

F*** OFF?

One of our friendlier brethren then.

Big Eddie  I remember that day, you were unbeaten I think, penultimate game of the season.  My view was that Caldy thought the game was in the bag and went out to show us all who was boss.  The Dale were having non of it and engaged beast mode.  It is not often seen in the modern game, but it turned into one of the hardest games I've witnessed as aggression was barely controlled, the team of 3 really struggling.

A very tight game and thus the crowd were as revved up as I'd ever seen.  The match was summed up by the action of Green legend Rob Baldwin, who with a few minutes to go, one point down, ball in hand, at speed, Nick Royal stood on the try line. Baldwin could have gone left, right, or even fallen over for the winning score, but instead wanted to knock Royal into the next season.  Remarkably he was held up over the line and Caldy went through numerous phases, Dale flying in to every collision, knocking you back, but  you held firm for a great win.

The crowd were fizzing, raucous and most probably abusive throughout, but when the whistle went all was forgotten and beers shared. 

I sometimes hear things at the Dale that make me cringe, but there is no place i'd rather be than in the crowd at the Avenue, when the Team and supporters are in the mood. I've watched rugby at just about every National league ground over the past 10 years, and nothing approaches the atmosphere of a good Dale crowd.  I did overhear someone from Richmond saying, when we were relegated from Nat 1 "Oh thank god they have gone Tarquin; the most boorish people"

Enjoy the Champ, a fantastic achievement getting there.

Watch out for Cov. I cheered loudly for my team there one day and the bloke next to me to F*** OFF.  
The only places I have disliked going to were the soulless ones with no crowd, or Huckleberryly Pearen students.

However by and large I agree with all the sentiments expressed by you and others ......the Wharfedale supporters are most definitely partisan and passionate..........but not gentle country folk.......they certainly know how to get the Green Machine going

Google gave me this definition of 'partisan'

Always a pleasure visiting the Rectory sadly missed. I know what Big Eddie means about the green machine but in most cases it’s disguised with a huge dallop of Yorkshire dry humour. I love visiting The Avenue including the banter, always great fun. 

All the best 

ST

Late April 2017 and Caldy were closing in on the National 2 North title........my first and only visit to Wharfedale. The idyllic and tranquil scenery together with a very hospitable club house didn't prepare us for a ferociously hostile game on a bone hard deeply rutted pitch.

The Green Machine aided and abetted by easily the most hostile crowd I have ever encountered played like a team of Spartan warriors infused with crack cocaine defending their motherland. We scloquat a win and after a few quick beers we took our wounded back to an altogether more benign and friendly Merseyside.

One of our 'loudest' supporters had flown to Wharfedale in his bright red two seater gyrocopter and landed in the adjoining field. Paul is not a man prone to intimidation but I think he was buckled up with the rotors turning within a couple of minutes of the final whistle.....

Wharfedale's green and pleasant land left an indelible impression on us all