oldhamer

I don't know what happened there with charging rent, but I can tell you 110% that it was CH was the catalyst of getting that team up an running in that community. I can remember a presentation that was done in the Social Club prior to the launch on Wednesday evening, and then the subsequent sessions that Michael Ward and other volunteer coaches did on the pitch at Whitebank in the many weeks after. Yes, it is great to see that the Lions are going from strength to strength, may it continue.

The statement that in 2009-10 there was no connection with the community. It isn't reward or recognition people wanted, it is respect. In addition, that there was a reserves that was fielded by a good sprinkling of local players that progressed to first team level. It was a 'local' pathway of such. This seems to be forgotten. I have no axe to grind with BQ, the club or no one. I have no desire to re-connect with BQ, having done so in the past. Volunteers are the backbone of clubs like Oldham, and it is good to see people recognised.

I applaud everything what is happening at the moment. Long may it continue. It just annoys me that when someone comes out with a strong statement as BQ did, ensure the facts at 100% correct as there has been some very good people who put 110% into community work as volunteers with very little reward.

I am sure BQ can prove this. However, I was merely pointing out that there was a comment made that no community engagement had been done by the previous club. That is something I can prove 110% is not correct. I asked the question about the players being sold, as there was and is so many stories going around on what really did happen.

Was you involved in the club at the time ? Were you involved in any of those discussions ? Did you witness any of those promises ? I am all for the past being the past, and I hope lessons have been learned and Oldham become successful.

Having read this, I feel compelled to comment on some of the issues raised in this thread. Oldham RLFC did engage with the community, and the clubs, but not as much as probably the club wanted. This was probably down to finance and having a small volunteer base. I can remember that Two Bobs did an excellent job in schools and within the clubs, and others did the same. There were also rugby camps that were supported by local coaches and players, again very successful. On the return to Whitebank, Oldham had two seasons of curtain raisers most home games (on average adding 150 plus to the gate), even taking local sides to the LSV for the Northern Rail games. I think the curtain raiser yielded over 500 tickets sold for the game against Featherstone in 2009 at the LSV. Do we forget how the reserve side got up and running in 2008 ? That was a combination of the Service Area, the time and the hard work Houghy put in as well as the community coaches. It was only the RFL that put the halt on the reserve teams, when Oldham started yielding positive results through Houghy, Leo Casey, Ashy, Phil Costin etc. Steve Nield, Phil Joy, Michael Ward, Dave Cookson, Chris Clarke as well as other local lads coming through. A lot of work was done by volunteers and employees, and to be said that nothing was done is completely incorrect. I do have a question though. Who 'sold' Two Bobs, Danny Halliwell, James Coyle and Dave Allen in 2009 as Oldham was preparing for the play offs and probably being favourites to gain promotion ? https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/another-blow-for-crisis-hit-oldham Oldham have a fantastic future ahead, and the engagement with everyone has been first class, long may it continue. But to keep condemning people with untruths is not the way to go.