Publisher's Synopsis
THE PETITON - Rugby League fans say "enough is enough" was born out of frustration from extreme biased opinion and venom against the game of rugby league by certain media outlets. For over 100 years the sport has had to endure sporting apartheid and discrimination beyond what is acceptable in a so-called free society. Its survival is testimony to those who love and play the game. It was early May 2001. There was a post (beginning of a message) on the St. Helens RFL club's own website message board. The 'Judge' had been reading the Sunday Express just after the Challenge Cup Final between St. Helens and Bradford Bulls. An article by the Chief Sports Correspondent, Jim Holden, was so derogatory against rugby league that the 'Judge' took it upon himself to place the offending piece on the board for all to see. What happened next was unbelievable, as fans vented their anger by e-mail and letter. One part of the article referred to League as "rats in a sewer", a quote from the establishment of bygone days. The following week the paper printed two pages of fans letters, such was the avalanche of mail that descended down to London.;By passing messages onto various message boards of other clubs, The Petition started to grow in stature. As confidence grew it soon became front page news in the St. Helens Reporter. Other papers soon took up the clarion call. Local radio became interested as league troops were on the march for fair play. Finally it had an airing on Sky TV via Angela Powers of Sky, due much to the mounting signatures being collected and the help of many fans on the Saints' message board. Sky had been bombarded with e-mails as fans requested The Petition be given some airtime. By early 2002 The Petition will have been handed into Parliament via the good office of David Hinchcliffe MP, a true stalwart of the game. Lord Hoyle and Terry Wynn MEP have given their support and encouragement, as well as many other MP's. Many guest contributions are included; from the likes of Alex Service, the Saints' Historian, Harry Edgar of 'Open Rugby' fame, Peter Roe, ex Featherstone coach and presently the new Wakefield coach, plus Lord Hoyle and Terry Wynn MEP. There is an excellent article by Roger Grime highlighting the plight of the French Rugby League.;Roger has visited those shores for many a year with junior rugby league - so enjoy a glass of wine and view their plight. Allan Reeve takes you back in his time machine to see how all the trouble began - a century and more ago in bygone times. Tim Wilkinson spent much of the summer writing to various clubs to encourage support of The Petition. See the outcome and form your opinion of how some in our game treat us, the fans. Even the fans have their say, and what excellent viewpoints they give. No doubt some will agree with the contents of the book, whilst others will see it differently. If at the end of the day it helps league to overcome many of its problems, then it will be mission accomplished.
