Heaven knows life has not been plain sailing at Salford in recent times, but the Red Devils are currently enjoying their best season in years.
After thrashing Wakefield 30-6 on Thursday night, Ian Watson’s men reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1998.
That alone has a ring to it.
One of the game’s traditional strugglers reaching Wembley would breathe passion and romance into rugby league’s oldest and most famous competition.
Watson, a local lad, is in tune with Salford’s working-class heart and understands what makes it tick.
It is a tough area, severely deprived in parts, but Watson has fashioned a side to make the city’s people proud.
“Getting to Wembley would be massive,” said the understated but quietly impressive head coach, who joined Salford as a player from nearby amateur club Eccles.
“I couldn’t even tell you when we last won any major silverware, so it would be a huge thing for this club.”
Do not underestimate how much progress Salford have actually made under Watson.
Alongside their Challenge Cup run, they lie second in the Super League table.
Do not overlook that either.
To go from relegation candidates to serious title contenders in such a short space of time takes some doing.
You have to be able to call on a collective desire.
Watson has instilled that spirit in his squad and they simply steamrollered Wakefield during the first half on Thursday night.
Trinity boss Chris Chester hit the nail on the head when he spoke of his side being dominated from “minute one to minute eighty”.
So, after several seasons of chaos, Salford are rising.
Marwan Koukash took control in January 2013, since when there have been coach sackings, legal disputes, attempts to bring down the RFL, fights with relegation and of course the Million Pound Game last October.
Salford beat Hull KR by virtue of Gareth O’Brien’s drop-goal in extra-time and have not looked back since.
“We are on a good journey as a club,” added Watson, who is ably supported by assistants Willie Poching and Martin Gleeson and strength and conditioning coach Greg Brown.
“It’s something that started last year. We ended up in the Million Pound game, but we came through that adversity and it stood us in good stead.
“We’ve proved that 90 percent of the time we are a really good team and if we can showcase that every week then we will become real contenders.”
At the end of 2011, Salford moved out of the historic Willows in inner-city Weaste and into a new stadium just off the M60.
But the club’s supporters have felt at home there and crowds have been consistently poor.
And so the club recently began a consultation with fans and stakeholders amid speculation of a name change or move away from the AJ Bell Stadium.
Yet the mayor of Salford Paul Dennett was almost beside himself at such a prospect.
He warned: “I think changing the team’s name to Manchester would be a mistake.
“The people of this city, and the fans of the club, know exactly what it means to be a Salfordian. It means coming from the same city as L.S. Lowry, Walter Greenwood, Sheila Delaney and Joy Division.
“Salford Reds fans aren’t Manchester fans. This is a different city with a different community and a different history.
“A name change could be damaging to the team’s fanbase and the club’s identity. I would argue it would be unwise.”
These are interesting times at Salford – on and off the pitch.
