Salford Red Devils host champions Wigan Warriors tomorrow looking for their fourth successive win and top spot in the Betfred Super League.
The game is part of Red Devils’ ‘Building the Future’ campaign which has been running since 2021 and offers free tickets to schools across the region.
Paul Trainor, Salford Red Devils director said: “There will be a range of activities on pre-match for the young people to engage with, together with the opportunity to meet players, get autographs, selfies.”
In the past three years this campaign has brought over 7,500 children from over 100 different schools to the Salford Community Stadium.
Trainor added: “Our players are fantastic role models to our young fans, as well as great ambassadors for Salford Red Devils and the sport of Rugby League as a whole.”
Through this campaign Trainor is hoping to build a new generation of fans to help fill the 12,000 capacity stadium.
Last season’s encounter with Wigan brought Red Devils their all-time record home attendance of 7,854. However the average attendance last season was 4,702. Over 1,000 travelling Wigan fans are expected tomorrow night, and there’s hope that the attendance record could be broken again.
Trainor said: “As a club, we are working incredibly hard to raise the profile of the club across the region and the Building the Future strategy is integral to that.
“Many of the young people who attend our Building the Future games are attending their first game of live sport. To have the opportunity to engage with the players is something which will make memories for them and hopefully start their journey as Salford Red Devils fans,” added Trainor.
Thursday’s game is coming on the back of their historic win at St Helens as Red Devils were victorious in the Totally Wicked Stadium for the first time in 44 years! So long ago that Roy Haggerty, father of current Red Devils assistant coach Kurt, was on the bench for St Helens that day in January 1980, and Pink Floyd were Number One in the charts with Another Brick in the Wall!
Salford will be looking to carry momentum into their trip to Hull in Round 6 of the Betfred Challenge Cup on March 22. After going into the season without a complete squad, going top of the Super League would be a huge achievement for The Red Devils.
Salford can’t rely on the services of Cade Cust, Brad Singleton or Chris Hankinson who are all ruled out of the game due to injuries.
Salford will be relying on the form of Marc Sneyd who earned his third consecutive Man of the Match award last Friday. David Nofoaluma, who’s been named in the 20-man squad, will be looking to get his first start since arriving to the club last month.
Today, Salford announced the return of Gil Dudson from Warrington Wolves on a season-long loan. Dudson is back in the team for the first time since the 2019 Super League Grand Final defeat to St Helens.
Dudson said: “I’m really excited to be back at a place that I have so many great memories of. The feeling around the team is great and I’m looking forward to pulling on the red shirt again!”
Thursday’s clash is live on Sky Sports Action, coverage starts at 7:30pm prior to the 8pm kick-off.