Salford’s Amateur Rugby League Football Clubs

The cup returns

Since it was last played for, Folly Lane have made huge strides at all age groups. We have some really good people at our club helping facilitate rugby league at all age groups.

The 2026 season

Our men’s team started the 2026 season knowing that a number of under-18s were stepping up to play men’s open-age rugby league for the very first time, alongside a few others who had already played one season. It would be our youngest line-up for a very long time. They would be surrounded by a few good ‘old heads’ to help guide them through the big step up from youth to men’s rugby league in the Premier Division of the North West Men’s League.

To be really honest, our first aim was to stay in that division.

We hit the ground running with a great 14–12 win away at Chorley Panthers on the opening day of the season. The lads stood up to a huge Chorley pack and the season just went from strength to strength.

We were never out of the top two all season and we reached the NWML Cup Final, where we were unlucky to lose narrowly against a very good Hindley team. The lads were obviously disappointed at that loss, but to see how far this team came this season was amazing. The club and coaching staff are very proud of this group of lads.

Building for next season

The aim for next season is to add strength to our squad by running a regular reserve team in the NWML Entry Division. The spirit is good both in the team and throughout the club in general.

Good luck to all our lads in the Valentine Cup.

We also run a successful Ladies Masters team and are looking to recruit for a Men’s Masters team. We would also like to run girls’ teams in the near future.

A season to be proud of

When I look back at the season so far, I think it’s important to recognise that success at Salford City Roosters cannot simply be measured by what has happened on the pitch. Of course, winning the league and narrowly missing out in the Grand Final is something we should be incredibly proud of, and the lads deserve huge credit for what they have achieved competitively.

But for me, the real success goes much deeper than results. When we started, one of the biggest priorities was to bring people back to the club, create a stronger sense of togetherness and start building a different culture around the club. To now have such strong numbers at training, regularly seeing more than 40 players involved, and being able to consistently field a second team is a massive achievement in itself. We have created a genuine pathway for players, given more lads the opportunity to play and developed healthy competition across the open-age group.

Bringing the Roosters family together

What has also been really pleasing is the support from the wider Roosters family, particularly the Masters. Former players are staying connected, checking in on results and taking a genuine interest in how the lads are doing. Alongside former players and volunteers presenting shirts, junior players getting involved on matchdays and more supporters coming down, it has helped bring different generations of the club together again.

The lads have also embraced a new approach. There was an old ethos around the club that we knew needed to change, and the players have really bought into the standards, expectations and values we have tried to establish. They have shown that they are willing to work hard, challenge themselves, support each other and take genuine pride in representing Salford City Roosters. At times this season, they have been absolutely clinical, and they have been a pleasure not just to coach but to watch. There have been moments where I’ve found myself simply standing there applauding them, with a big smile on my face, because of the quality of rugby they have produced. That is one of the most rewarding things as a coach: seeing a group of players express themselves, trust each other and produce the kind of rugby that we know they are capable of.

Standout performances

There have been some fantastic individual performances along the way as well. Mason Horton has been immense with the workload he has put in week after week, consistently putting his hand up and doing the hard yards for the team. Louis Lord has been outstanding and deserves huge credit for topping the try-scoring charts, showing not only his finishing ability but the confidence and consistency he has brought to his game and then there is our fearless leader, George Jamieson, who simply has never stopped leading us. His commitment, presence and leadership have been there throughout the season and he has continued to set the standards for those around him. Those three are just examples of what has been a really strong collective effort from the whole group and every player who has pulled on the Roosters shirt this year should take pride in what they have contributed.

Building for the future

So, while winning the league and reaching the Grand Final are fantastic achievements, I genuinely believe the biggest success is what we are building away from the scoreboard. We have stronger numbers, a consistent second team, younger players coming through, a more positive culture and, importantly, a group of lads who have embraced the direction we are trying to take the club in. We have also started to reconnect different generations of the club, with the Masters, former players, juniors, volunteers, coaches, players and supporters all feeling more involved. That gives us something far more valuable than one season’s results. It gives Salford City Roosters a foundation to build on for the future. I’m incredibly proud of what the lads have achieved, but even more proud of the way they have gone about it and the club environment we are creating together.