As the controversial franchise system set to be adopted in 2009 draws ever closer, there’s one club very much in the shadows who still hold fond memories of their time as a franchise in the early years of Super League – Gateshead Thunder.

Thunder joined Super League in 1999 as a franchise under the guidance of Shaun McRae and finished in 6th place, beating St Helens home and away and also Wigan. But in November of the same year, the club merged with Hull Sharks to form the club we know today as Hull FC.

Now in National League 2, Gateshead can only look back at their times in Super League and watch as other franchises try to establish themselves in the top flight. Catalans Dragons are the latest, and the likes of Celtic Crusaders look set to follow.

And there is no one better to tell the Gateshead story thank Chris Hood, who is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Community Development manager for the club. Hood, 26, from Wallsend, got involved in the game over 10 years ago when it first came to the North East.

How did you first get involved with rugby league in the North East?

“Well I first got involved as a player with Newcastle Eagles, a junior team from Newcastle. A lot of my friends played so I thought I’d give it a bit of a go. I loved the game immediately. I’ve got a lot to thank the club for, because they also gave me the opportunity to gain my first qualification. I then started playing with Gateshead Mets Academy.

“When Rugby League first came to Gateshead through the RFL, Gateshead Mets were seen as the first “national” team as we competed in the National Academy League. It was a real challenge for those that set up the team and the players. I like to think it stood me in good stead as from an early age, getting to know the level that the game was at in the heartlands but also experiencing how much the game meant to people. Coming from a soccer mad area like Newcastle, I know how much sport means to local communities; however Rugby League showed me something that I hadn’t experienced before. There was a real passion from everyone I met in my first year - to the game and to its players. Gateshead Mets then became Gateshead Thunder’s Academy when the franchise came to the North East and that was really when I knew I wanted to be in the game for life.”

You played in the academy side for the Super League franchise. Where do you think it went all wrong for Gateshead in Super League?

“I think that the success of the team in its first year shocked the club’s owners. I don’t think it had anything to do with support – the average gate in that first super league season was 3,700 and that was more than Newcastle Falcons. I really don’t think that they knew what to expect and when the team was winning, and winning games that they weren’t expected to, they couldn’t control the beast they created!

“The effect the club had on the local community was phenomenal. I just think that the opportunity that was given with Hull was too great to resist. It still hurts me now because in the first season we finished 6th and beat many teams that had much more history and prestige than ours.”

What are your thoughts on the franchise system set to come in to place in 2009?

“Mixed – there’s very obvious pros and cons to both the current promotion / relegation system that we are very used to and the franchise system. Franchises will allow clubs to develop themselves and create roots that we didn’t have the chance to at Gateshead. Look at Catalans – everyone knocked them and the whole idea of a French club in Super League when the first came in. This season they have grown stronger and allowed more of their “own” to come to the front. They were in the Challenge Cup Final and fans now look to see when their team will go to Perpignan so they can book their trip. Franchises give stability to clubs that is vitally important for their success – look at previous years when clubs were promoted to Super League, to then go straight back down.

“However, a little bit of me feels like the spirit of the game may go missing when promotion / relegation finishes. Fans at clubs who are in the National Leagues can always hold onto the fact that if they have a good team, and a board that will back their coach, have as good a chance as any to get in with the big boys – isn’t that what the game has always been about? Try telling someone at say Oldham or Workington, who have both tasted the top flight that they won’t again for a very long time. I think this can be seen now in the National Leagues, with clubs spending money to get teams that will win and get promoted, just so that they are on the right side of the door when it closes.”

Will the north east ever have a Super League team again?

I truly hope so, and for the good of the game there needs to be. Government funding is so important to National Governing Bodies like the RFL so they need to have a “National” game, not something that is played in certain parts of the country. How long has our game been known as exclusive to the M62 corridor? The RFL do such a hard job at developing the game throughout the whole of the country, including Scotland and Wales, it feels like they are committed to making sure that our game is a truly national one. Look at all the franchises that have happened over the years and tell me if any have been as successful in their first year like Gateshead Thunder was? – The people are here, we just need the opportunity. However we know that we need to earn that opportunity.

Will rugby league ever be big in the north east?

That same question has been asked to people in London and Wales. They are doing everything they possibly can to make it succeed and if they are doing that then how could it possibly fail? I feel exactly the same – at present we have the most clubs, coaches, players and volunteers we have ever had in the North East, which is a testament to those involved and the Regional Development Team. If we keep working hard and increase number and capacity then it’s only a matter of time.

Outside of the club, what is the progress at a grassroots level of rugby league in the north east?

“We now have more coaches and clubs than have ever had. There are approximately 50 Secondary schools in the region playing the game, and even more primary schools that feed into them. That’s a hell of a lot of children! More children are going from schools to clubs, making our participation pool bigger and stronger. There are more new players participating in the Rugby League Conference, and there are more newly qualified coaches and match officials throughout the regions.

“We at Thunder have good links with schools and their pupils through our Community Sports Coaches, we have good ties with junior and senior clubs, with clubs having a player ‘adopting’ them each year and being available to them, as well as coaching clinics that both David Woods and myself run, and we regularly attend games in the RLC to both support clubs and see if there is anyone who we feel can take the step up. We also have a good link up with the RFL’s Match Officials Department – they use our first team training sessions as development for their top officials and our first team are qualified Match Officials to officiate at local junior fixtures. We feel that this is the right thing for Gateshead Thunder to do, and by making the Amateur game stronger, we to will grow with them.”

Chris also says that Gateshead are working towards a potential franchise application in 2012: “We are working every day at Thunder at creating a club that can push for a franchise. If this takes till 2012 then we will work hard until 2012. However, we know what we need to do, what works and, at times more importantly, what doesn’t work. This gives us a great chance at becoming an attractive opportunity in Rugby League for the National Game.”

Thunder have shown just how to make a success of a franchise on the pitch, but if they get another chance, they’ll have to make sure they do exactly the same off it. They are a good example to all franchise clubs of the good and bad points of the system and let’s hope that one day top flight does return to the north east, for the good of the game.