Rivals Network Shuts Up Shop

As of this morning, the Rivals Network shut down.

For years it was the internet hub for many Alex fans having arrived on the scene nearly a decade ago, and the network itself was just the first of many football fan networks to crop up.

However, after a take over by BSkyb just a couple of years ago the test of time was against the network. Many editors took their site off what was becoming a tired and worn down network and moved over to the likes of VitalFootball.

A recent re-design soon forced other editors off, and what once hosted the cream of the crop of football fanzines was now a deserted series of internet message boards.

This morning Rivals's parent company took the decision to take all Rivals sites off line, commenting:

'Following the closure in hosting all the relevant websites, and a review of www.rivals.net it has been decided to close the Rivals websites as of the date of this letter.'

And so it's the end of an era.

The Crewe message board remained popular to the end and we'd like to offer all members a place here on Vital. Still updated daily, with a fast growing message board and on the most popular football fanzine network, we have it all to offer.

Unlike Rivals, we are going nowhere. The Vital network is going from strength to strength, with a brilliant new look about to hit your monitors very soon. On top of that the top dogs at Vital towers are beavering away on one or two new features that no-one else will be bringing you.

Head over to our message board and say hello.

For the very latest League Two odds

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.