In this week's edition,
Weekly Recap.
A history of the "General".
Birthdays.
Special Mentions.
Weekly Recap.
This week it was the turn of Hull FC to grace Odsal. It was a wet day with a very swirling wind and sunny spells - the joys of the Odsal climate.
Jay was there selling Golden Gamble tickets which helps the club develop the youth coming through this means that everyone who buys one is helping the club as well as being in a prize draw so we thank everyone who bought one this week.
Jay was there selling Golden Gamble tickets which helps the club develop the youth coming through this means that everyone who buys one is helping the club as well as being in a prize draw so we thank everyone who bought one this week.
Time was getting on and the rain was on and off along with the wind which was cold and swirling. Kick-off was approaching and Tom and his family had just made it after being held up in traffic after an accident on the motorway.
As the weather was not great Tom decided that it would be best to watch the game in the Touchdown bar as he had his two boys with him.
Well the game was a good one even though we went in 12-10 down at half-time.
During the interval Jimmy must have said some really good things as we came out and performed much better in the second-half and ended up winning the game 34-28.
During the interval Jimmy must have said some really good things as we came out and performed much better in the second-half and ended up winning the game 34-28.
That's now three on the bounce for the boys! It's looking like we will be going into the Championship with our heads held high as I cannot see us losing another game now. You can see highlights of our win over Hull FC by CLICKING HERE.
BULLieve were invited to attend the man-of-the
match presentation in the coral stand where we heard from the winner Lee Gaskell and met some of the players who were superb in giving up their time to sign shirts and pose for pictures.
match presentation in the coral stand where we heard from the winner Lee Gaskell and met some of the players who were superb in giving up their time to sign shirts and pose for pictures.
The big news to come out of the Bulls this week is that Danny Addy has decided to stay with us and, has signed a new two-year-deal!
Also this week Chev Walker has committed himself to the Bulls by penning a new one-year-deal. Chev becomes the 13th addition to Jimmy’s plans for next season and will certainly be a huge asset during our campaign with his wealth of experience.
Also this week Chev Walker has committed himself to the Bulls by penning a new one-year-deal. Chev becomes the 13th addition to Jimmy’s plans for next season and will certainly be a huge asset during our campaign with his wealth of experience.
Absolutely fantastic of Danny and Chev to stick by the club and the fans, we are all made up!
The Bulls have also launched a new partnership with the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. The T&A will now be commercial partners for an initial one-year-deal.
This is showing how strong the Bulls brand is and how it’s growing stronger by the day.
This is showing how strong the Bulls brand is and how it’s growing stronger by the day.
Listening to the fans and looking at various comments, we are all happy and for once in a very long time we are looking forward to next season and extremely optimistic about the future. The past is firmly in the past and the club is going forward in a way which none of us could see possible going back 18 months.
This week we asked for your A sign if you supported RL4Alex and here pictured is Adam O'Brien and Tom and Kirsty's sons doing the A sign. Thank you for your time and the picture Adam.
Here is Jay before the game doing his own A sign.
Seven Brothers
Do you know what ex- Bull Nathan McAvoy is up to these days?
Well for all of you who don't know, Nathan has a hand in setting up a brewery company in Salford Quays named Seven Bro7hers.
For a brief history and to look around their website then please CLICK HERE
We are looking forward to doing a taste test in the very near future.
In the mean time please give them a follow @SEVENBRO7HERS on Twitter.
In the mean time please give them a follow @SEVENBRO7HERS on Twitter.
Beers are ready to order so why not place your order with them?.
All the best guys we are sure you will be very successful with your venture in the near future.
We asked you on Twitter where our followers were from.
Our furthest follower who tweeted us is @paulwainman who sent: Born in Shipley Northern/Bulls fan for life now living in Kennebunkport, Maine USA.......BULLieve.
Our furthest follower who tweeted us is @paulwainman who sent: Born in Shipley Northern/Bulls fan for life now living in Kennebunkport, Maine USA.......BULLieve.
Are there any other followers who are further than that? Tweet us and let us know!
We are now looking for readers who read our blogs from holiday! Tweet us your locations and a picture and we will feature you in our next edition.
This week BULLieve has been placed on 2 websites. The first being by @League1895 and you can find the website HERE
The second website is by @seriousaboutrl and you can find the website HERE
Please give both accounts a follow on Twitter and also visit their sites.
As you may recall a young lad called Hayden Harrison, who plays for Dudley Hill ARLFC is raising cash for the Macmillan nurses who helped his family whilst his granddad sadly passed away of brain cancer. He and countless others are doing a head shave this Sunday and are wanting to raise £500. So far they are just under half way of that target and are looking for people to kindly donate. We can reveal that our very own Karl Pratt will be doing the head shave to help raise cash too! Karl and all the other people involved in this very special fundraiser THIS SUNDAY will take place at Dudley Hill's ground. Please dig deep if you can, and donate as much or as little as you can afford. You can donate online by clicking HERE
A History of the "General".
James Lowes was born the 11th October 1969, before signing for the Bulls he had played for Hunslet and Leeds. Jimmy signed for Leeds from Hunslet in September 1992 but left at the dawn of Super League era during his 4 seasons at Leeds Jimmy had appeared in 2 Challenge cup finals in 1994 and 1995 scoring in the latter. It was in 1996 that Jimmy's career really took off when he signed for the Bulls. In 1997 Jimmy went on to win the man of steel award and also top try scorer and became a huge catalyst behind the Bulls success and mainly the driving force behind the formidable pack. In 2002 Jimmy topped the Bradford tackle count with 620 hits. Jimmy also went on to star for Great Britain between 1996-1999. During Jimmy's playing days was a great organiser and defender as well, just as being deadly in attack when nearing the opponents line.
In total Jimmy played 238 games for the club scoring 99 tries and one drop goal before retiring after the grand final win at the end of 2003 season and scoring the final try of the match in typical Jimmy fashion with a scramble from dummy half. In all Jimmy gained 5 Great Britain caps during his time with the Bulls. Lowes was included in the "Millennium masters" and "Bull Masters" and in August 2007 was named in team of the century. Only 6 players have made all 3 lists those being Lowes, Karl Fairbank , Keith Mumby, Robbie Paul and Ernest Ward. Jimmy also went on for a short spell in rugby union at the end of his league career with West Park Leeds. After Jimmy's playing days he went on to coaching, his coaching career actually began at Bradford in 2004 under the guidance of Brian Noble before moving to Salford the following season.
In July 2007 he joined Paul Cullen,s coaching staff at Warrington and took charge of the club between June 2008 and March 2009 in a caretaker capacity before working under Tony Smith for 2 seasons. In 2010 Jimmy returned back to the Leeds Rhinos in a coaching capacity. It was in 2013 Jimmy switched codes in coaching and became the head coach of Leeds Carenegie.
It was then Mid Season of this current year as we are all aware Jimmy made it clear that he made his intentions clear and returned "home" to the Bulls after the sackings of Francis Cummins and Lee st Hillaire. It was not the first time he had been interested in the Bulls hot seat as Jimmy had applied in 2011 when Mick Potter took the reigns from Steve McNamara.
During Jimmy's time as a player with the Bulls his own personal honours include 3 Super league titles, 2 Challenge Cups and a World club Championship. After our rich vein of form and instilling the belief and desire into the squad how many more honours can he add as a Head Coach.
This we are just going to have to wait and see. But interesting times certainly lay ahead and with Jimmy in charge the future certainly looks bright.
BULLieve met the General. Jay, Jimmy and Tom.
Birthdays.
This week we have had an email from a very proud grandma asking if we can wish a very happy birthday to Archie Ainscough who turns 4 on the 24th August. Archie is the first son of Lauren McHugh and Shaun Ainscough who is one of our Ex Bulls. Whilst Archie will be celebrating his birthday, Freddie ( Shaun and Lauren's second son) will be getting christened on the same day.
Happy 4th birthday Archie have a great day and also have a great day to all who are attending the christening of Freddie.
Pictured is Archie at his mum's sister's wedding sent in by Wendy McHugh ( grandma )
Happy birthday to Emma Louise Fish who celebrated her birthday on Sunday.
Happy birthday to Nick Lockyear who turned 20 on Tuesday.
Happy birthday to James Obank who also celebrated his birthday on Tuesday.
Happy birthday everyone we hope you had a great day and celebrated with the Bulls win.
Special Mentions
We would like to give special mentions to the following people,
Karl Pratt and Ryan Sparks of the Bradford Bulls.
Everyone who bought a Golden Gamble ticket around the ground.
Ben at serious about rugby league for featuring our blog on the website.
League 1895 for also featuring some of our work on their website too.
Each and every reader who reads and shares our blog as without all you lovely people we wouldn't have a blog to write so THANK YOU!
Very best of luck to both Castleford Tigers and the Leeds Rhinos who are this weekend playing for the Tetley's Challenge Cup. May the best team win but, who will YOU be cheering for?
Until next time, Don't stop BULLieving!
