By FrankG
August 27 2003

As the kick-off of the first game at Edgeley Park approaches, messageboarder FrankG offers us his thoughts on the upcoming hostilities...

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.

For over 140 years Sale FC and latterly Sale Sharks have been playing at the cosy intimate ground of Heywood Road. It has seen all the best teams in England and, on occasions, the Sale Sharks players have seen off the strongest of oppositions. But time and tide wait for no man, and change and progress must be made if the five-year plan to be the best team in England is to succeed.

This year we will see a mega change. We are off to Edgeley Park, Stockport where Stockport County FC have played football, of the Association variety, since 1902. There is no doubt that along with other Rugby Union teams we will form a happy and progressive relationship.

But to the matters in hand on Friday the 29^th August 2003 Sale Sharks will play their first game at the new stadium. The opposition could not be more illustrious. Leicester Tigers have kindly agreed to be our very first opponents. Although World Cup duties are affecting both teams considerably, the teams will consist of Zurich Premiership players of the highest class coming from many different countries. At the time of writing specific details of selection are not available but safe to say the match will be of outstanding quality.

Peter Anglesea, our vaunted skipper, wants Edgeley Park to become a fortress, as Heywood Road was. It up to us the supporters to assist in that regard we must replicate the noise, advice and good humour of "the Birtles" of old. The team is ready and as "The Bard of Stratford" would have said, and to him every acknowledgement: -

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Stevie, Big Jim and Sale Sharks!

COME ON SALE!!!!!

FrankG