To all LEAGUE OF OUR OWN members,

Our work here is done! It is with a mixture of pride and sadness that we say farewell to the juggernaut that is LEAGUE OF OUR OWN.

Started in 2006 by two die hard league fans living in Melbourne, we have grown to over 800 members in that time. Our key philosophy and aim was to make rugby league available to all the league fans in Melbourne, and we were able to do this through strength in numbers, by convincing pubs to turn off the AFL and switch on to league. This was obviously most successful for the "channel 9" games, as many LOOO members had access to Foxtel games at home.

Following the decision by Channel 9 to now broadcast channel 9 games on GEM, and therefore directly into Victorian lounge rooms, LEAGUE OF OUR OWN attendance numbers have dwindled. For example, at last year's ANZAC Test Match, we had over 150 members attending. This year, we had about 30. Friday night and Sunday afternoon crowds have also decreased markedly in the last few weeks.

Don't get us wrong - we see this as a fantastic thing! To be able to watch rugby league from the comfort of your own home is a right we think every Aussie should have!

But what this means for LEAGUE OF OUR OWN is that our work here is done - we will no longer be scheduling events with venues, and we will no longer be sending weekly emails.

We would like to thank all the venues who, over the past six years, have taken a leap of faith and turned their TVs over to us. We encourage you to continue to attend these venues for fun, for sentimental reasons, and for the odd game of league. They include The Limerick Arms Hotel, The Station Hotel, The Imperial Hotel, AAMI Park, and a few others you may remember from the past such as the British Crown, the Turf Bar, The Quarry and the Rising Sun at South Melbourne.

We would also like to thank all our members who have made watching league so much fun each and every week! We know many fan groups have formed close bonds and new friendships and we hope you continue to get together to watch games.

The LOOO website and email address will remain active until the end of the 2012 season, so feel free to drop us a line about anything related to rugby league in Melbourne, as we will continue to be actively involved in promoting the game in Victoria for the remainder of the year.

And if you'll allow us this final indulgence - go the Tigers, go the Dragons and good luck to your team in 2012!

Veronica and Paul Robertson
LEAGUE OF OUR OWN