Goole Vikings unveil big names but community at heart of new professional club

By convincing a former Super League chief executive and two Hull legends who will forever be remembered for their Challenge Cup feats to join the venture, Goole have shown they are a serious outfit after getting the nod to become League One's newest club.

But there will be a fresh, homegrown feel to the Vikings as they make the step up from the Yorkshire League.

Rather than parade former England international Shaul at Tuesday's press event in Goole, the club unveiled local lads Tom Halliday and Ben Hodder as their first two signings.

Halliday joins the Vikings from Championship club Doncaster, while fellow Goole native Hodder has earned his first opportunity at professional level courtesy of his standout form for the amateur side.

For Clark, who is back in rugby league after leaving his role as Hull CEO earlier this year, the double signing is the perfect way to kick off an exciting new era for the sport in the town.

"What we felt we could offer here was a new market in a traditional heartland," he said.

"Within 20km of the ground, there are 72 amateur clubs and no other professional sports team. That's what gives us the opportunity here to grow a team that can be sustainable for the long term.

"We're not in this to be spending huge amounts of money and signing lots of lavish players to make lots of headlines; we want this to be something that can be owned by the community, be a key part of Goole and be here for the long haul.

"Because we're serious about our community values and what Goole means and stands for, we felt our first two announcements should be Goole people."

The Vikings will recruit from Goole, Hull and everywhere in between as they cast their net far and wide.

Clark feels the club are ideally placed to snap up players who would otherwise be lost to the sport in their bid to win hearts and minds.

"We can become everybody's second favourite team," added Clark.

"Something that is quite traditional now in the football world is supporting your big Premier League side and then your non-league team. We have that opportunity here.

"We also have a chance of gathering players. The players that fall out of these amateur and professional clubs have an opportunity to play.

"I know from my time at Hull the amount of players that leave the system at a decent standard and don't have another opportunity because it's too far to travel.

"There are countless examples of players who have missed out, got a second chance and climbed back through the grades to Super League. That's an opportunity we can deliver here."

Goole have no time to waste after getting the nod from the Rugby Football League to join the professional ranks ahead of bids from Anglian Vipers and Bedford Tigers.

New head coach Taylor must get his squad in place in time for the start of pre-season on December 1, a challenge described as "somewhat unprecedented" by Clark.

Taylor, who represented England at the 2017 World Cup and won the double with Wigan Warriors, is taking his first steps into coaching at professional level following his retirement last year.

"I wanted to step away and make sure I had that fire still burning inside me before getting back involved at coaching level," said the 33-year-old, who has scaled back his involvement with his business to take over Goole full-time.

"Since that's happened I've had a few interviews, I've spoken to a few clubs and I've had some very good offers come my way.

"I wanted something that felt right and got the fire burning inside. It's not always about money, it's about what’s right for me and my career and the values that I stand by.

"As soon as I met Mark (Richardson, chairman) and spoke about Goole and the passion behind the project, then with James getting involved and getting the full picture, it was just a no-brainer for me. It excited me. It's right in the heartbeat of rugby league.

"I've got a lot to give this game still. Some people say I retired too young but I'm a very competitive person. I want to take this step on the rugby league ladder. I'm over the moon to be the head coach of Goole.”

With the signing of Shaul announced on Tuesday evening and a £7million redevelopment of their Victoria Pleasure Ground set to begin in the coming weeks, the town is buzzing with excitement.

But Goole know they must learn to walk before they can run after dampening expectations of an early promotion bid.

"Of course, we want to get to the highest point we can but it's small steps at the minute," added Taylor.

"Everyone knows it's a big step up to the Championship. Everyone can see that with what Wakefield have spent.

"We're a new team and that's a long way in the distance. Of course, one day we'd love Goole to be in the Championship. That's the big objective but we've got to make sure we cement ourselves as a good League One team.

"There's so much excitement going around. It's the perfect place to have a Championship team but we're a new team and are not getting carried away yet."