Roger and Out
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Posts posted by Roger and Out
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THE Roughyeds end-of-season Presentation Night is this Friday (7.30) at the Oldham Event Centre, Boundary Park. Tickets priced £10, including supper, are available online via the Roughyeds website until midnight tonight (Tues). We have to pinpoint a cut-off point for purposes of catering requirements etc. You can also vote online for the supporters' player of the year and you have until midnight tomorrow (Wed) to do that. Our end-of-season bash is always a good do and the Event Centre is smart, comfortable and inviting with access to the large car park off Broadway. If you haven't been before give us a try as we close the book on 2022 and look ahead to 2023. Don 't forget those deadlines though -- midnight tonight for tickets; midnight tomorrow night (Wed) for naming your player of the year.
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In this case it hits Oldham RLFC too, given that its a shared gate,
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Winning promotion to the Championship isn't the be-all and end-all of this season. We don't want to be a yo-yo team, up and down, up and down. This season is all about consolidation and building for the future, just as much with off-field and community work as with what happens on the pitch. I know the team and our games are the club's shop window, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes too and in the meantime we rely on the support and backing of the Oldham people. Having said all that, it would be nice to figure in the play-offs even if we don't go all the way.
Every time any team takes to the field there's an opposition out to push you down and to do for their fans what our fans would love us to do to them. That's the nature of competitive sport. For every win there's a loss, but the chances of us going from strength to strength and inflicting more defeats on the opposition than they inflict on us depend, to a large degree, on the backing and support of local people.
As Stu Littler says, we are on a journey. Let me just add that the next milestone on that journey can be found at the Vestacare Stadium tomorrow (3pm start) when we play London Skolars. Get there if you can and enjoy the game in the knowledge that, by your very presence, you are doing YOUR bit to ensuring that Roughyeds continue to fly the flag in Oldham. In the meantime you can find out all you need to know about the game on our Roughyeds website. We know it isn't Super League, or even the Championship. But it's OLDHAM, your Oldham, your Heritage, your town, your team. See you there !
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We have four games left -- TWO at home -- and Roughyeds hope as many fans as possible turn up at the Vestacare Stadium this coming Sunday (3pm) for the visit of London Skolars and again on Sunday, September 4 when Hunslet are here in what might, or might not, have a lot riding on it in terms of play-off qualification. We all know it's been a disappointing season, but pre-season lots of fans were thinking we might not even have a team. We are still alive and kicking and its fair to say, I think, that off the field we are stronger than we have been for years. The club doesn't shut down at the end of the season. Preparations for 2023 are already under way and the more money we can generate for the club the better will be our chances for success next year. That's why it is important we have decent crowds this Sunday and again on Sep 4. It's all about YOU - the fans -- and whether you want to support the club through thick and thin (Roughyeds till I die and all that) or whether you only want to support the club when everything is going well. We are asked to survive on only TEN home games for the full year -- a year in which we have to travel to faraway places like Cornwall, London, Llanelli and the other side of Birmingham. Financially, it's tough for all clubs in League One but tougher for us than a lot of clubs because we don't have our own ground so we can't generate income from bars, food outlets etc. This year clubs like ours have also had to cope with a reduction in central funding of something like 80 per cent. It's not easy but when the going gets tough we like to think Roughyeds in 2022 are resilient enough to roll up their sleeves and get going. This is not a moan -- please don't take it as such -- rather a statement of fact. It was fabulous to see a lot of fans at Solihull last Sunday. I think there were more of us than them. Hope to see you all again, and more, at the Vestacare this Sunday. We owe Skolars one. Let's show our colours, be loud and proud -- and cheer on our boys as we did in Worcestershire last weekend when we went 29-0 up. See you Sunday !
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Take your point, jr, and thanks for starting the thread. But what if we play for 80 like we played in the first half ? What then ?
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John Holdsworth is very much alive and he is a very nice guy.
All referees have to make vital split-second decisions in the heat of the moment. Like you and I they are human. They won't always get decisions right, nor would you or I. The call in particular was a very close call and I would challenge anyone who claims they know for 100 per cent certain that Lordy was onside.
Even if it was ever proved that he was onside, John wouldn't be the first ref --- and he sure won't be the last --
to err on a v ital decision. Some decisions go for you; some go against you. It happens. Thanks for your services to the game John -- and long may you enjoy it !
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People have short memories. These things happen in sport. I remember the days of one division of about 30 clubs and one season we finished next to bottom. The only team below us (I think) was Blackpool Borough. These days it's all about money and we aint got much. What we do have is an owner who's an absolute gem at keeping us going against all the odds.
Again, let's talk about memory. Only a few short months ago, the big debate among fans was whether or not we would even have a club. Well, we are still here. struggling on the field, that's true, but probably stronger off it than we have been for years with John Roddy in as vice chairman; new and regular links with the other rugby league organisations in the town; a vibrant new Supporters Club, YEDS, run by young people; new relationships with Oldham Council; the new agreement for joint use of Melrose which opens up new training and community-initiative opportunities; the launch of a women's team and a masters team for over-35s. I could go on.
Suffice to say, a lot of people are giving their time, energy and skills to battle and work for the club they love, so PLEASE stick with us and give us your support. Times are tough, we know that, but we either throw in the towel or we fight the good fight.
We prefer to do the latter -- and thus give a lift to the guy who, for nearly quarter of a century, has proved time and again that he doesn't know the existence of the word 'quit'.
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An important game for both sides, for sure, with an interesting ######-bit, given the number of cross-club connections. Rival coaches Stu Littler and Allan Coleman are good pals and former Swinton colleagues. The Lions have SEVEN ex-Oldham players in their squad, five of them from as recently as last season, namely Dan Abram, Max Roberts, Lewis Sheridan, Matty Wilkinson and Jack Spencer. The other two are Will Hope and Richard Lepori. In our camp, we have a former Lions player, assistant boss and then head coach in Stu Littler; an ex-Swinton chief in vice-chairman John Roddy and senior players who were also at Heywood Road last season in Martyn Ridyard and Tom Spencer.
There are loads of other things going on too -- like the relaunch of Roary's Pride for boys and girls; like the three World Cups on view; like the curtain-raiser featuring Limehurst Lions and Saddleworth Rangers under-10s; like the appearance of numerous former Oldham players, including Alex Melling, Scott Ranson and Shane Tupaea; like the presentation of the match ball to the referee by teenage boxing star Naomi Kalu, whose CV suggests she is heading for the top in women's boxing.
Throw in the Melrose Playing Fields adventure; the launch of a women's team, with a Masters team to follow; the introduction of a regular Roughyeds podcast on social media; and the Roughyeds On Tour darts competition at venues across the borough, starting next Thursday, and you can see how much work and effort is being put into the club in order to have more involvement with the community.
Sunday is the club's first home game since April. Hope to see you there !
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Don't forget Thursday's public meeting at the Fox and Pine, Greaves Street, Oldham in which Roughyeds will give you all the facts and information you require about the formation of the club's new women's team. Women's rugby league is a massive source of growth for our sport and it will be fantastic to see a team of OLDHAM women representing our club and our town.
The meeting starts at 7pm and the club will welcome anyone and everyone to listen to what Roughyeds have to say about their new women's team. It also goes without saying that anyone interested in playing, coaching or taking up one of the many off-field roles can take advantage of this opportunity to find out all about the new project and to register their interest.
That's 7pm Thursday at the town-centre Fox and Pine in Greaves Street. See you there !
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Times are tough in Oldham on the pro sport front. We all know that. As far as Latics are concerned, it happened at Stockport and something similar happened at Bury. Then there's Derby County, Macclesfield and no doubt lots of others whom I don't know about. It's not just an Oldham thing and it's certainly not just a rugby league thing. You've only to look at the number of former Football League clubs who have been relegated to what we used to call non-league football and you'll see what I mean.
Clifford, as far as Roughyeds are concerned, we would all like to be further up the pecking order, but we are where we are and we either give up the ghost or we strive to get better. CH and his helpers/volunteers etc, not to mention all the diehard fans like yourself who turn up to support us at matches, are working like hell for the club, first of all to keep us going (something, with all due respect, we didn't manage in 1997) and if possible to see us advance and get stronger.
I don 't want to get involved with "the town is knackered" argument or whether Waterhead would beat Oldham or Oldham would beat Waterhead. We'll never know and in any event it's irrelevant. As Oldham-area rugby league fans we surely want all the amateur teams in town to be the best they can be just like we want Roughyeds to be the best we can be.
The world is changing. Society is changing. Sport is changing too -- and so is the amount of disposable income individuals have in their pockets, to say nothing of how all business is feeling the pinch. It's tough for everyone, but that's all the more reason why we've to fight and scrap like hell for what we believe in. In our case that's Oldham RLFC.
Let's ALL stand up for Rugby League and, more closely to home, for the Oldham club. We lost it in '97 and we've now seen Latics slip out of the Football League. Enough evidence there, surely, to show that if you don't use it you lose it. None of us wants to see that happen again.
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I remember walking through Tintown to the turnstiles, after catching one of the special buses from outside the Electric House, when I was a kid, and, as has already been said, it's always good to hear from Anita. But hey, let's get this thread back to back to the Vestacare Stadium tomorrow and the Oldham v Cornwall game. Come and give Roughyeds a cheer and reserve a special one for our fullback Owen Restall if he scores a try to add to the NINE he's scored in our four league games so far which make him the league's top try scorer to date. Welcome Cornwall by all means, but please don't run away with the idea they are a team full of novices. Ex-Super League man Anthony Mullally is there, plus three DR players from Bradford and two loan lads from Wigan, like us.
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Cornwall RLFC, latest addition to the Rugby League family, come to the Vestacare Stadium for the first time this coming Sunday, April 24. Keep an eye open every day this week for all the pre-match content on the Roughyeds' website and on the club's social media platforms. We need the two league points on offer, but we also need -- more than ever -- your support at the turnstiles and your vocal support during the game. Come and watch our talented full-back Owen Restall, whose three tries at Rochdale confirmed his position as Betfred League One's top try scorer to date. Well done Owen, keep up the good work !
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WE are at home again this Sunday to West Wales Raiders (3pm kick off) and if you go on the website and read the article headlined 'Three days to go to the next home game' you will see there are a whole host of initiatives, all designed to enhance the game-day experience at the Vestacare Stadium. We can, of course, climb into the play-off places if we beat West Wales and other results go our way. But please read the website to get a flavour of all that's going on behind the scenes as we till and toil, mainly as volunteers, to move the club forward in these difficult times. UTY !
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Andrade got married on Saturday -- pre-booked and organised before he signed for Roughyeds. The club's congrats and best wishes go with them. At 22-4 up in the second half we should certainly have won, but we suffered a lot of injuries and reorganisation, Also, we gave away SEVEN first-half penalties and defended like hell for long periods, which took its toll later on.
We still earned an away point against one of the traditional heartland clubs in League One -- and that despite loads of injury and disruption. Well done, boys. Now it's back to the Vestacare this Sunday for the visit of West Wales. Bring it on !
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The reality, and that's what the club has to deal with, is that away league games do nothing to help with the financial situation. Inevitably, there has to be a lot more focus on getting people through the turnstiles at HOME games because that's what keeps the club alive. That's why the club has targeted a crowd of 1,000 at each home game.and why, last night, a virtual (laptop) meeting of the management committee focused most of its deliberations on the next home game, which is against West Wales on Sunday week, April 10.
Don't get me wrong. It will be great to see lots of fans at Hunslet on Sunday and I'm sure the players would appreciate it. BUT, please remember, the club really NEEDS you at the Vestacare when we play West Wales because it's your entrance money, allied to that from sponsorship, merchandise sales, season-ticket sales, Club Cash lottery etc, that keeps the wolf from the door.
In terms of consolidation and then making progress and taking the club forward it all depends on financial stability and that comes down, in the main, to HOME attendances. I know that sounds obvious, but a reminder won't do any harm. The crowd of 815 against Keighley last week was hugely encouraging -- especially as it was Mothers Day and the game was on Our League -- and the club has since thanked publicly all who attended and supported the club in a way the benefits are most directly felt. Again, thanks to everyone who came. And PLEASE put the West Wales game in your diary. It's on Sunday week, April 10. With a bit of luck, and a fair wind, there will be some very interesting announcements to make in the next few weeks. A lot is going on behind the scenes and, believe me, a lot of hard work is going into driving the club forward. Up the Roughyeds !
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25th Anniversary dinner
in Oldham RLFC
Posted
Born-again quarter of a century ago, Oldham RLFC (1997) Ltd has announced it will stage a glittering dinner at The Oldham Event Centre on Friday, November 25 (7pm for 7.30) to celebrate the majestic milestone of reaching its first 25 years in business - and still going strong. Guest speaker will be former St Helens and Ireland pack star Kyle Amor and the first event of its kind put on by Roughyeds for many a year will be compered by MC Pete Emmett, one of the best in the business. Tickets at £35 a head include three-course dinner with coffee and mints. You can book online NOW, via the Roughyeds website, or ring the office on 07904 898177. For further details go to the full story on the website.