SALE Sharks will get their 2009/10 campaign off to a cracking start at home to reigning champions Leicester Tigers.
The new fixtures have also handed Sale an opening road trip to traditional bogey side Newcastle Falcons – though the Sharks did create a small slice of history last season by recording their first-ever league win at Kingston Park.
New director of rugby Jones has stressed the importance of making Edgleley Park an impregnable fortress for visiting sides but Sale will need to be at their combative best to live up to that mantra as following the Tigers clash, the next two visitors to Stockport are Bath and London Irish - who both pipped the Sharks to finish in the top four last term.
Other highlights will see Sale face a festive road trip to Leicester’s re-vamped Welford Road whilst they will round off the regular campaign with another tough away fixture – at Heineken Cup group opponents Harlequins.
Sale's 2009/10 fixture list
4/5/6 September H LEICESTER TIGERS
11/12/13 September A Newcastle Falcons
18/19/20 September H BATH
25/26/27 September A Worcester Warriors
2/3/4 October H LONDON IRISH
9/10/11 October Heineken
16/17/18 October Heineken
23/24/25 October A Northampton
30/31 October H GLOUCESTER
6/7/8 November EDF 1
13/14/15 November EDF 2
20/21/22 November A Leeds Carnegie
27/28/29 November H WASPS
4/5/6 December A Saracens
11/12/13 December Heineken
18/19/20 December Heineken
26/27 December A Leicester Tigers
1/2/3 January H HARLEQUINS
8/9/10 January H SARACENS
15/16/17 January Heineken
22/23/24 January Heineken
29/30 January EDF 3
5/6/7 February EDF 4
12/13/14 February A Wasps
19/20/21 February H LEEDS CARNEGIE
26/27/28 February A Gloucester
5/6/7 March H NORTHAMPTON
13/14 March EDF Semi Final
20/21 March EDF Final
26/27/28 March A London Irish
2/3/4 April H WORCESTER WARRIORS
9/10/11 April Heineken QF
16/17/18 April A Bath
23/24/25 April H NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1 / 2 May Heineken SF
8 May A Harlequins
15 May GP Semi Finals
22/23 May Heineken Final
29 May GP Final
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Showing comments 1 to 3 and replies | View All
Rob Storm (24/06/2009 at 21:09)
Martin Howe (26/06/2009 at 12:52)
May I just say the reason for Sale being in Stockport is we outgrew our ground and became a dominant force in our sport. Something Stockport never have and never will be able to do.
Sale do not aim to ruin decades of County's presence, County and their run of chairmen have managed to do that themselves by not managing the club's finances properly and making terrible decisions.
The fact that Cheshire Sport bought Edgeley Park meant that County have actually survived a few more years than they actually would have done without the buyout.
I do not particularly like Edgeley Park as it does not create the classic rugby atmosphere like Heywood Road used to, and it is a few decades behind modern stadia but it will do in the short term and maybe our presence there will help to keep your club alive.
Nefyn blue, Stockport (27/06/2009 at 17:57)
I have posted similar thoughts on another thread. The facts are, Stockport County have barely survived for decades. Stockport Council have supported them for years as it would not look good for a town to lose its football club. Without the Councils support, the club would have gone years ago. They have been in dire straits long before Sale came along
Mr Kennedy is a shrewd businessman, he will have given the Council a real arm twisting on this one. Nearly all SCFC supporters realise that Sale's continued presence at Edgeley Park is essential if they are to survive at all.
I would suggest that the outcome will result in a much improved ground, with increased revenue potential that will benefit both sides.
I do agree that the present set up is inadequate with little comfort provided for crowds in excess of 7 thousand, the Gene Kelly stand is desperately poor in this respect. However, Sale now own the land to the rear of the Railway End and it would provide the land required to improve the ground.