Tough start? It’s nowt new.

Starting the National League campaign at Leigh—we couldn’t have drew any tougher. However, we should be used to the deep end treatment by now.  In the second tier, every one of Salford’s opening league matches has been away from home. Considering this is our eighth season outside the top flight, that’s quite a run on a 50–50 chance. And it’s not as if they’ve been easy places to go. Somebody, quite clearly, doesn’t like us. 

Of course, the one that’s still fresh in most of our memories is the 2003 opener at Whitehaven, on a scorching Good Friday, pigeon racing trucks and all. After the game we were under no illusions that the league was going to be a walk over, certainly not away from The Willows. In fact, it took a last gasp touchline goal from Chris Charles to snatch a competition point from the jaws of defeat. Mind you, we knew beforehand that Whitehaven would be one of our toughest tests. Again, perhaps we should be used to it. Including this particular game, four of the previous seven said openers were in Cumbria—three against Whitehaven, against whom we’ve collected the full house: a win (2–14 in 1996), a loss (18–8 in 1984–85) and the aforementioned draw. The other Cumbrians? A shalacking of Barrow in 1990 (0–31).

Two of the games were in West Yorkshire, an uneasy trip even in the most modern of times (modern being the operative word): sneaking past Huddersfield 21–26 in 2006, when we were a decent outfit (recent conquerers of Wigan, remember?), and busting Hunslet 18–35 in 1982, when we were, well, ordinary at best. The remaining tough away assignment was arguably the toughest of the lot: a visit to Oldham’s Watersheddings. Never a happy hunting ground for Salford, well certainly in the time I’ve been watching them. Nevertheless, give The Red Devils their due, Salford won 7–17. Not that it did us any good in the long run. Oldham romped away with the title whilst Salford finished fifth—the only occasions in seven Second Division campaigns where Salford weren’t promoted.

So in all: Salford have won five, drew one and lost one. That’s not a bad record considering they were all away. However, it does mean I’m just crying in another loss!