Last week, I was invited to attend a meeting with the RFL to discuss a future strategy for the game. It was a good meeting and at times I think the RFL receive undue criticism around their vision of future growth.

Barrow Raiders are firmly aligned to their vision of increased participation and increased viewers, either through media channels or attending matches.

Our club had a similar meeting last week and we are totally committed to align ourselves with the RFL’s key performance indicators around growing crowds and growing awareness of the game.

We have had conversations with former and current board members of Keighley Cougars and Bradford Bulls who were responsible for Cougarmania and Bullmania.

You may remember that both those clubs had an exponential growth in crowds in a very short period in the 90s. Keighley were denied promotion to Super League just as they were riding a crest of a wave while Bradford commanded fantastic crowds over a number of years.

Both those clubs reported that their strategy was to target children. They got in their faces well before the days of social media. They were in schools handing out tickets and promoting every game. Keighley even influenced the teachers to make their lessons rugby-related.

We at Barrow Raiders are totally committed to growing our crowds and so it is for this reason that we have gone one step further than allowing free entry for children.

For every adult who brings two children to the ground, we will give you a £5 voucher to spend on hot food or drinks. If you bring four children, you can have two vouchers.

So, not only are we going to allow children in for free we are going to feed you as well. We are convinced that once the children see the product then they will want to return.

We also intend to try to get a season ticket in the hands of every child. Yes, they don’t need one but we aren’t sure that our message is really out there. At Barrow Raiders, ‘Kids Go Free’.

If we can get in the top five for crowds, then there is some serious money paid, as the RFL reward those clubs that do the most for the game. It is a tough ask with big clubs like Bradford, Widnes, Leigh, Featherstone, Toulouse, Halifax and York ahead of us, but we aren’t taking the option of not trying.

A successful team will help, but we also need to get some atmosphere in the ground. I think the PA system is well overdue for an upgrade and I’m hoping to convince the rest of the board that it is a sound investment.

Perhaps we also have to do something different on game day. It might upset some traditionalists but music played at the appropriate time within the game can enhance the experience and there have been other suggestions of brass bands and choirs – all good ideas for me.