OL14.yeds

Can’t see an issue with fans attending Covid-wise. Football grounds across England have been full of fans and Scotland are reopening stadia next week.

Is this confirmed anywhere yet? Starting to really miss my rugby fix!

As I previously posted, Oldham are keeping their 2021 shirt and are selling it at cost-price as a thanks to the fans. However, we have switched manufacturers, from 1895 Sports to Ellgren. They look very smart IMO.

https://roughyeds.co.uk/2021/12/strength-in-partnership-as-we-plan-for-the-future/ - the first ‘partners’ meeting, including the supporters’ group, Oldham amateur rugby, the club etc. https://roughyeds.co.uk/2021/12/new-kit-deal-and-cost-price-replicas-for-christmas/ - new kit deal with Ellgren, selling replica shirts at cost-price, and new leisure wear on the way.

We were told at the fans forum last month that it was looking like Whitebank, where we last played at in 2019, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Whilst all is not ‘rosey in the garden’ in the world of RL, I think calls of the game being knackered are wide of the mark. There’s the World Cup in 2022, with all men’s, women’s and wheelchair games being covered by the BBC, with games played at St. James’ Park, The Emirates, Old Trafford etc. Channel 4 have announced they’ll be showing 10 Super League games in 2022/23 free-to-air for the first time and Premier Sports covering Championship games for 2022. With Sky’s coverage of the Championship play-offs and final, I can’t think of many other sports, bar soccer, that have that much coverage for their top and second tiers. It all adds up to a lot greater exposure which should benefit the sport as a whole. The reduced funding for next season is a big issue, especially for League 1 clubs, however it’s now up to the likes of Oldham to stop licking their wounds and go get promotion! *puts tin hat on*

Some good L1 experience there, especially in the forwards. A few ex-Keighley and Hunslet lads too, hope we’re not thinking of ground-sharing in Yorkshire next season.

Oldham have announced they’re sticking with their 2021 shirts, and as a thank you to fans for sticking with the club they’ll be selling them at cost price.

Some key points in this article: https://roughyeds.co.uk/2021/11/positivity-was-the-key-word-at-our-fans-forum/?fbclid=IwAR2upTW99RDIuIpcuNl1gPVqLnqhwVVtBnVOp8n4ksgL5uq_qYgwcYGI_8Q Interesting to hear also that the club are hoping to announce some very positive news on the future of the club in the near future.

Halifax rebranded as ‘Panthers’ last pre-season and reportedly saw a rise in interest and merchandise sales. I wouldn’t be adverse to this if it was part of a larger project to promote the club in the borough. A mate of mine has the old bear logo tattooed on him, I’m sure he’d be pleased

Hopefully we’ll find out on Thursday.

With the awards evening and fans’ forum at the OEC, I assume the gossip is around a return to BP?

Good to know BD20. Didn't Will Cooke play for your lot too?

Was there any other options that didn’t involve the crest, that never saw the light of day?

Interesting to hear Littler’s comments about building over three or four years. Sounds like a long term plan has been discussed, hopefully for the club as a whole.

Dupree, Ince, Gregory and Bent signed for Widnes. Joy, Bridge and Owen all retired.

Like I’ve said before, I’d rather the club spend 2/3 seasons competing in League 1, even mid table, if it meant resources, fundraising, and the focus was on developing a site in the town. Non league football clubs can do it (Horsham, Scarborough, FCUM etc.), if the will is there, Roughyeds can.

Been to Moor Lane as an Oldham Athletic fan in a sold out away end and the atmosphere was great, from the away fans at least. The parking situation isn’t great, which would definitely be an issue when Wigan, Saints, Leeds etc. are in town, but the transport links into the centre of Manchester are there at least. The ground as a whole probably suites the RL club better in many ways, but it’s definitely a down grade in terms of how it looks on TV, something you hear mentioned in conversations about Super League’s image on TV/Sky deals. I can see Salford as a strong Championship side in a 10+10 league system.

Forty20 podcast did an hour long interview with RFL Chair Simon Johnson last week, and whilst he didn’t confirm anything, it sounded like the amount of central funding maybe distributed based on a number of factors like player development, facilities, on and off the field performance etc.

Had a covid outbreak and wanted the game to be played.

I’d never say never, but there’s so many underlying factors that make that look unlikely. There’s the damaged relationship between the clubs after the rugby club left BP in the early 2000s. There’s the state of the football club now with its shambolic ownership and fan unrest (boycotts, protests, bottom of the football league). There’s the fact the pitch there hasn’t been relayed in years and would need doing so to host both teams, and the the obvious cost that comes with that. And, which is sad to see, there is still a bit of niggle between SOME of the sets of fans. Not exactly on Wigan levels, but as a fan of both clubs and looking at the state of pro sport in the town, it’s not needed.

I work around the borough throughout the week. One day a couple of weeks ago I saw two different people wearing South Sydney Rabbitohs merchandise, a Saints shirt and a Wigan shirt. As for Roughyeds’ gear? Don’t ask. Hearing the stories of old and thinking back to going to Sheddings and then Boundary Park in the Super League days with my Dad, it’s depressing to see where the club is now. Losing the club’s spiritual home was a disaster. And ground-sharing with the football club again is a pipe dream giving the shambolic way they’re been ran at the moment (I support them too, I must of been a real evil person in a past life).

The lad from Saints who played fullback looked decent for about 30 minutes, before getting a straight red vs York.

5th tier football, National League, has a mix of pro and semi pro teams. There’s even been clubs paying full time contracts in the league below.

Have to say, the social media side of things has been much improved this season, however, I think the club definitely needs to improve it’s profile within the town. Even though I’ve moved out of Oldham, I still work in the town and I’m out and about all week. Last summer I saw a bloke wearing one of the NHS shirts we did, and I can’t remember seeing anything else to do with club since then. The club and the townsfolk needs to be engaged again! Where the team plays is obviously one of the big issues, and I think fans want more dialog and/or transparency with the club as to what the long term plan is. The change in funding from the SL tv deal adds another level of uncertainty and angst about the future.