Hull KR and Salford urge fans to behave
Hull KR have joined Salford in asking supporters to conduct themselves properly at Friday’s Challenge Cup sixth round tie between the two sides.
The match will be their first meeting since last October’s Million Pound Game, when the Red Devils secured their Super League status in a dramatic match at KCOM Craven Park.
There were ugly scenes as fans poured onto the pitch after the final whistle and both clubs are eager to avoid a repeat this weekend.
Hull KR Chairman Neil Hudgell said: “Our supporters have been nothing short of fantastic all season and their passion and loyalty towards Hull Kingston Rovers has been exemplary since the Million Pound Game in particular when the mindless actions of the minority tarnished the reputation of the club in what we hope will remain an isolated incident.
“It undermined what had previously been an unblemished record for crowd behaviour going back several years and since then we have been working with the authorities to rid the club of those people and implement additional safety measures at our home matchdays.
“However, as far as we are concerned, the events of last season have been consigned to history and we have set about our task in the Kingstone Press Championship with a positive mindset.
“Our supporters have been instrumental in that and will have a crucial role to play in the coming months as we look to push for promotion back to the top flight via the Super 8s Qualifiers.
“We do not wish to put ourselves in a position where those ambitions could be compromised in any way and we are relying on the vast majority of our supporters to lead by example on Friday and report any concerns that may arise at the earliest opportunity.
“Within the club, we are treating Friday’s match just like any other game and we would encourage all of our supporters in attendance to do the same, albeit whilst enjoying the special atmosphere of the Challenge Cup and the chance to test ourselves against Super League opposition once more.”
Salford CEO Ian Blease added: “With a place the quarter-finals in the cup at stake, this is the kind of game that we all live for as supporters, with passion riding high and history playing its part, after all this is a rematch of one the most jaw-dropping clashes the modern game has ever seen.
“Recently the club has seen a groundswell of passionate fans openly talking about the desire to grow the support base on the ‘terraces’, and to do this they know that means attracting new families to the stadium and making the AJ Bell a welcoming child friendly experience.
“These champions of our club are the same ones who want to avoid any of the ugly scenes that followed the Million Pound Game, and I for one thank them.
“One of the things that makes this sport, and the Challenge Cup in particular so special is the family environment and the respect between clubs, so let’s all keep this in mind regardless of the result on Friday night.”