Bramley Buffaloes begin their tenth season back in Rugby League with an exciting new challenge and a new man at the helm in club legend Steve Gill.
Gill assumed the head coaching role at the Stanningley-based fans owned club in the close season after the departure of Craig Lingard to Batley Bulldogs and his first game in charge sees the Buffaloes taking on Stannngley A in the Yorkshire Premier League next Sunday 7th April.
Bramley, who dominated the game’s fourth tier for several years after their reformation in 2003, will be aiming to continue the rebuilding process after three difficult years and Gill hopes to get the club back on an upward trajectory.
Steve, who has already played 93 games for Bramley since 2004, commented “Going into the new season my main objective is to continue the good work done by Craig last year and im sure we can achieve this with the help of my two assistants in Buffaloes’ legend Danny O’Connor and Stuart Blake who has an outstanding reputation in academy and county rep coaching.
“We as a club are in a bit of a re-building period on and off the field at the moment but it’s a challenge i’m relishing starting with our inaugural season in the YML against our landlords Stanningley.
“For our loyal army of fans, the lifeblood of the club, I hope we can repay their faith and bring some success back to a club to which I have grown to love. There will be some new faces pulling on the Black ‘n’ Amber this year and I believe there could be some new fans favourites in the making.
“Bramley has a unique and influential place within the history of this great sport and the side will continue to play with the pride associated with the Villagers and Buffaloes of years gone by.
“The Buffaloes are back and we look forward to seeing a big crowd getting behind us next Sunday against Stanningley A at the Arthur Miller Stadium,” added Steve, who started playing RL aged 8 with Hunslet Parkside and works as an air conditioning engineer in his day job.
Club chair Martyn Cheney, a key player in club’s supporter led revival after the closure of the former professional outfit in 1999, is looking forward to the prospect of a new season and a new challenge: “After all of the doubts surrounding our future we’re delighted to say we are alive and kicking and looking forward to what is a terrific season in what will be a very competitive and exciting league.
“We play a number of close local rivals and that only adds to the spice of what lies ahead. We hope our supporters will turn up in their numbers to follow our progress. The Buffaloes really are back up and running!” added Martyn.