Lions are finally back on home turf
JUST over a year after their last competitive outing, Swinton took to the field at their Heywood Road home at the weekend.
It was an internal ‘blue versus white’ scratch match, but it allowed Lions boss Stuart Littler to get a look at his 2021 squad across three 25-minute periods.
Although ultimately a training session, Littler was delighted his side were able to once again step onto their home ground.
“It was great to be back doing what we all love to do,” said the former Salford Red Devils centre.
“The sun was shining and the session proved there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can now have huge optimism about the future in front of us.
“Everything ran smoothly and it was great to see the boys back out in some in-house competitive action, even it was just a training exercise.
“We now move into a game week scenario with footage to review and stats to compile, but most of all with opposition to prepare for.
“We will assess the learning points from the exercise and move forward together.”
The Lions’ first competitive fixture is the Challenge Cup first round tie against the Championship’s newest side Newcastle Thunder on March 21.
That will take place without spectators in the ground, but Swinton’s operations director Steve Wild explained the training outing at the weekend was vital in terms of preparation for hosting a behind-closed-doors fixture at Heywood Road for the first time. He said: “It’s been a long and complicated road to get to the stage where we could hold the training exercise, but it couldn’t have happened without the enthusiasm and professionalism of all our staff and volunteers.
“We have also had tremendous support from our friends at Sale FC, who already possess the invaluable experience of playing behind closed doors games at Heywood Road.
“The exercise at the weekend was not just a significant step forward for Stuart and his players and staff in preparing for a full return to action, it was also a key off-field exercise.”