A SPORTS fanatic from Blacon is fast becoming a man for all seasons after turning his dream of seeing Chester host all-year -round rugby league into a reality.

Jim Green established Chester Gladiators in 2008 with the team playing Merit League rugby through the summer. Then, earlier this year, he underlined his dedication to the sport by helping to set up the Gladiators’ partner club, Chester ARLFC, who now play through the winter in the North West Counties Division Six.

Green’s efforts have ensured that the 13-man code now goes on around the calendar in an area that was never traditionally a rugby league hotbed.

The 27-year-old, who combines his work as chairman, coach and player for the Gladiators with studying for a degree in journalism in Wrexham and working as a web editor, said: “I’ve always been a big Chester football fan and had never really watched rugby before until I went along with a friend to watch a Crewe Wolves match and loved it.

“I soon decided I wanted to play rugby league but was shocked to discover that Chester didn’t have a team. So we did an appeal in The Chronicle, borrowed some kits and balls to start with and it snowballed from there.

“Now we have a full senior team and three junior sides.”

Chester once had a rugby league side called the Wolves but they folded in 2006.

The Gladiators, however, have thrived since their inception, developing links with the city’s other major sports clubs such as Chester FC, Chester RUFC and Chester Broughton Hall CC. They have organised reduced cash-back ticket exchanges and trips to games in a bid to bring the sporting community together.

Now in their third season, the Gladiators, who currently move between homes at Hare Lane and Chester University, now have around 175 members across all of their sides.

And as the seasons roll on, Green – who works with a dedicated band of helpers, including Alan Jones – is delighted to be able to offer an alternative sporting option and to encourage members to play and watch other sports.

He showed his commitment to sport in the city by also playing an integral role in the rebirth of Chester FC, being a prime mover in the City Fans United fans’ group which brought Chester’s football team back from the dead.

But his work developing the oval ball game is obviously a source of great pride.

“It’s great to have rugby league all round now in Chester,” he says. “And we get on well with the other Chester clubs. We also have an excellent relationship with high-profile clubs like Crusaders in Wrexham as they have no youth system as such up here.

“We took a coachload of people to their first Super League game against Leeds. We also have six lads from our club on the books at Warrington Wolves.

“So we are excited about 2011, hope that the junior sides all complete their performance pathways and the seniors keep moving up the league table.”

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the Gladiators can email Jim Green at info@chestergladiators.com