👉 SALFORD RED DEVILS {2024} 👈

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Salford Red Devils 👹


✅ Watch the players train
✅ Meet the new faces
❓ Secure your special price East Stand season ticket

Who's coming to our free 𝙂𝙊 𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙏 event this Saturday? 🏟️

salfordreddevils.net/the-east-stand-returns-in-2024/

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Thoughts are with his friends, family and all that knew him well.

GOD BLESS 🙌🙌

May You Now Rest Easy Malc ❤️

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Rugby League World

Our 2024 Season Launch issue is out 26th Jan and includes a free Fixture Booklet covering Super League, Championship & League One. Not available in shops, so order your copy or a great value subscription now to avoid disappointment!!

totalrl.com/product/rugby-league-world-subscription/

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League Express


Read the new League Express at pocketmags.com/league-express-magazine or in shops now, including:

🍒 In-depth Matt Peet interview
🏉 Challenge Cup and pre-season reports
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stuart Barrow interview
🔴 Malcolm Alker tribute
🇳🇿 Harrison Hansen's 21st season
📰 News from all levels of the game

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MALCOLM ALKER DIES......
By CHRIS JONES
Rugby Leaguer & League Express www.totalrl.com



FORMER Salford and England star Malcolm Alker has passed away at the age of 45.

His former club confirmed the news on Sunday, putting out an X-post saying: "It is with huge sadness that we learn of the passing of former-Salford captain, Malcolm Alker.

"All our thoughts are with Malcolm’s family and friends at this difficult time."

Alker, who was born in Wigan, made his debut for the club in 1997, making 292 appearances between then and 2010, spending his entire professional career with the club.

Named captain in 2000 at the age of 21, he also represented Lancashire in 2002, and he played for England in 2005.

During the latter stages of his playing career he suffered from depression and in his autobiography

‘The Devil Within’, released in 2012, he admitted to taking cocaine and growth hormones while playing Rugby League.

"People may be thinking I’ve decided to bring out a book because I’m still bitter about how things worked out for me at Salford towards the end of my career. That’s not true," he said at the time.

“The book is a real warts-and-all account of my life and my career. I said I wanted to go to the grave with a clear conscience and it tells of the mistakes that I’ve made in life.

“I once went a full season needing a shoulder reconstruction but battled on. I also underwent a course of human growth hormone.

“I became depressed but, by coming clean, I hope what I’ve revealed will see things improve within the game for player welfare.

“I’m also hoping that young players will take note, realise the pressures of professional rugby and the pitfalls and don’t make the mistakes that I did.”

Later in his life, Alker was sentenced to four years imprisonment on 12 January 2018 for the armed robbery of a KFC restaurant and a Tesco Express store in Wigan in October 2017.

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KICK-OFF times have finally been confirmed for this year's Magic Weekend, as the event makes its controversial move to Leeds.

Elland Road will host a full round of Super League action on the weekend of August 17-18.

Hull FC and London start the weekend at 2.30pm on the Saturday, followed by marquee clashes between Wigan and St Helens (5pm), and Warrington and Leeds (7.30pm).

Magic Weekend 2024 Saturday 17 August

On the Sunday, Leigh and Salford open (1.30pm), with Catalans and Hull KR playing at 4pm before the event finishes with Huddersfield and Castleford (6.30pm).

RL Commercial have also announced a partial rebrand of the event, which will be referred to as 'MAGIC WKND 2024' on digital channels. Tickets went on sale yesterday (Sunday), available from all clubs as well as RL Commercial.

::Magic Weekend 2024 Saturday 17 August::

Hull FC v London Broncos - 2.30pm
Wigan Warriors v St Helens - 5pm
Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos - 7.30pm

***********************

::Magic Weekend 2024 Sunday 18 August::

Leigh Leopards v Salford Red Devils - 1.30pm
Catalans Dragons v Hull KR - 4pm
Huddersfield Giants v Castleford Tigers​- 6.30pm

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A FINE PLAYER LEAVING US MUCH TOO EARLY

TALKING RUGBY LEAGUE
With MARTYN SADLER Editor League Express...

I was deeply saddened by the news at the weekend that former Salford captain Malcolm Alker had passed away at the age of 45.

Malcolm retired injured from playing in 2010 and for a brief time was an assistant coach to Shaun McRae at Salford, but sadly it didn’t work out and he eventually left the club.

In 2012 he wrote his autobiography, ‘The Devil Within’, in which he admitted to a cocaine habit and to taking growth hormones while playing Rugby League.

In one sense his admission, putting all his cards on the table, was admirably honest.

The problem was that it effectively meant that he would never again get a job in Rugby League and his life thereafter seemed to offer him few alternatives.

It appears that he never managed to find a settled role in life and then came his conviction in January 2018 for having taken part in an armed robbery.

The tragedy for Malcolm was that he appeared to know that he was suffering from poor mental health during his playing career and he proposed that the RFL should do something to help players who were suffering in this way.

Jon Wilkin knew him well and last year he spoke on The Bench podcast about the former Salford star.

“We were in the Great Britain camp in 2005 and Malcom Alker, who has fallen on really hard times throughout his life, was in the squad at the time,” he said.

“At the time he said to Brian Noble who was coach at the time ‘do you know what we could do with, just a sheet every day where we write out how we’re feeling mentally, physically and emotionally.’

“He got laughed out; he got laughed out of town.”

Almost 20 years later he would have been taken fare more seriously.

But that didn’t happen until it was too late for him and he turned to drugs for comfort, building up debts to dealers, which is why he was desperate enough to resort to armed robbery.

I thought that Malcolm was a very fine player indeed, known in particular for his tackling.

In 2001 he became the first player to exceed 1,000 tackles in a Super League season and he seemed indestructible.

But perhaps he was too dedicated to playing the game.

I was struck by a comment from McRae in an article in 2010, when speaking about Malcolm.

“There are numerous stories here about him coming back from injuries ridiculously quickly – playing the week after having his appendix out, crazy stuff like that.”

With hindsight, that degree of determination to play without taking any heed of what his body must have been telling him was perhaps unwise. Someone should perhaps have persuaded him to recover properly before getting back onto the field. Perhaps his dabbling with drugs was caused by his desire to overcome the pain he suffered from playing the game.

Whatever the truth of his situation, I loved watching him play and I’m desperately sad to see him die at such a young age.

Anyone who doesn’t believe that mental health is important for Rugby League players should perhaps reflect on Malcolm’s passing.

I would like to send my sincere condolences to his family and friends for their tragic loss.

I hope that Malcolm can at last rest in peace.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE ALKER FAMILY

Following the sad news of Malcolm Alker’s passing, members of Malcolm’s family have requested to share the following message.

In loving memory of our dear brother, a true rugby legend and a champion on and off the pitch.

His loyalty, kindness and love for his family defined him. He will forever be in our hearts and thoughts, our brother. He is the strongest man we have ever known with a heart of gold, he would do anything for anyone. Words can’t express our sadness right now. We are beyond proud of all he has achieved.

Thank you everyone for showing your love.

Love you forever.

Melvin, Michael and Marlon.

***

The Club will host a book of condolence in the main stadium reception for those who wish to contribute. The Club will provide a further update across social media channels when the book is in place. This, along with condolence cards, will be shared with the Alker family ahead of the Castleford fixture. For those wishing to pass on condolence cards, please address to:

Alker Family
Salford Red Devils RLFC
Salford Stadium
1 Stadium Way
M30 7EY

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Salford Red Devils 👹
Thursday 18-1-24

A book of condolence is now in place in the Salford Stadium reception
for those who wish to pay their respects to Malcolm.

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