Goole Vikings declare bold bid to make leap to expanded League One for 2025

The club, who were formed in 2018 and currently play in Division Four of the Yorkshire Men’s League, are the first to publicly state their desire to join a newly-expanded League One.

The RFL invited applications to become its 36th senior club as part of a longer process to level up numbers between the second and third tiers, the latter which currently comprises just nine teams.

It’s understood that Goole are one of at least eight clubs to submit expressions of interest in the process, which closes on Friday, with a decision on the identity of the new club or clubs expected in late summer.

“We’ve always believed Goole is a bit of an untapped area in the M62 heartland, and would bridge the gap between Castleford and Hull,” said Goole president, Anthony Whiteley.

“There have been plenty of attempts at expansion in places like London and south Wales and ultimately none of them have been sustainable because the interest in rugby league isn’t there.

“I see the interest in rugby league in Goole every day and we want to provide a pathway for local kids, while giving the town of Goole its first professional sports club.”

The Vikings play at the 3,000-capacity Victoria Pleasure Ground, which is in line for £3.75m redevelopment set to be completed by July next year. Under the proposal, they would look to retain a high-level community club as well as their existing junior framework.

The identity of the remaining applicants is yet to be made public, but it is understood that despite rumours of a further bid from France, there is not currently any interest from abroad.

The RFL issued their invitation to expand following the respective departures of London Skolars and West Wales Raiders from League One in recent seasons.