'It’s been a right ride': Salford hold heads high after Grand Final defeat

Salford did not pull off a miracle against St Helens on Saturday but it was an occasion their fans will treasure for everBy Gavin Willacy for No Helmets RequiredThere was no Leicester City-esque climax to this remarkable story, after all. But Salford winning the Super League would have been a bigger miracle than all of the original members of Happy Mondays still being alive. Like Shaun Ryder’s band, they showed gritty resilience and flourishes of genius, epitomising Salford, the fabled Dirty Old Town. It wasn’t enough to win the Grand Final, but it was enough to lift the hearts of a battle-worn city.“The players need to be really proud of the journey we’ve been on,” said Salford coach Ian Watson, a local lad who spent much of his career playing for the club. “To create that buzz around the city, where everyone wants to play for Man United, is phenomenal. Reaching a Grand Final has been an outstanding experience. The play-offs were at a different level to what we’re used to, but coming here and finishing second isn’t enough. Losing is not a nice experience.” Related: Morgan Knowles and Zeb Taia lead St Helens to Grand Final win over Salford Related: Great Britain look to Josh Jones and young talent for autumn Tests Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

---