Oldham Valderama

I think a lot can be taken from the Josh Drinkwater interview when he signed a 12 month extension, I'll bet he knows exactly what is going on behind the scenes and the probably make up of the Oldham side next season. To this extent probably most of the rest of the squad do also so now's the time a lot of players are trying to get themselves sorted for next year. Those Oldham players who already have a contract for next season are obviously sorted, those who's contracts run out this year must by now have an idea if they are in SL's plans for next year, if they are then happy days but as it looks like Oldham may be splashing the cash on some big names a few players (Lawton / Craven for example) may be thinking if they've not had the seal of approval for next year already then best to seek pastures new and get sorted now instead of faffing about seeing what comes up at the end of the season. Oldham have a big squad, they are also linked with every other player out there for next season so the next couple of months are bound to see some transition of the current squad. Oldham are aiming to move up another level and as good as I think all current Oldham players are maybe in MF / SL's eyes they may not be up to the task for where they envisage Oldham aspiring to and its better for them to move on instead of being unhappy. I don't see any of this as any massive conspiracy, for me its good forward planning. Trust the coaching staff, they know what they are doing and I see exciting times for Oldham in the coming rest of the season!!!! COME ON OLDHAM!!!

Unfortunately you may well be correct, I hope not but you never know with the RFL who seem to make it up as they go along.

For me I'd quite happily take a couple more seasons in the Championship battling at the top end, securing the base for the club regarding its foundation, pathways, junior & girls teams, increasing crowd numbers, sponsorship and so on. Mixed in their a couple more signing of the Josh Drinkwater ilk. Really get the club on a stable footing but still mixing it with the big boys with the continued support of BQ's finances in a sensible fashion. What I'd hate for us to do is for BQ as passionate as he is (thank god we've got him at Oldham!!!!) to blow his lot on an ill fated attempt to get us into Super League when we are not ready and the foundations are not there. Leigh tried it a few years ago and were just not prepared hence for a few season's they were a yoyo club between SL and the Championship. What has been achieved by the current ownership has been nothing short of miraculous and I cannot thank them enough for putting Oldham RL back on the map big style and the pride back in the fans. The caveat to this is I do not want us to run before we can walk. BQ is a smart businessman and has not got where he is without being savvy. I'd just hope emotion and wanting the best for Oldham does not cloud the practicalities of turning a dying Oldham RL (which it was) into a successful sustainable club ready to compete in Super League for many years to come. I'm happy to go along for the ride as it is as the only way forward at the moment is up but lets do it in a measured and sensible way. If BQ spaffs all his money straight away is there someone else to replace him? I'm not sure there may be but i dont know. I'd hate for things to go that way so the not so slowly approach to building the club up from its foundations works for me. Its a great time to be an Oldham fan but lets not rush things too much!!!!

None of the above!!!

Watched the highlights of yesterday's game twice this afternoon whilst I was supposed to be "working from home" one the Halifax version and then the version from Roughyeds TV and without a shadow of doubt the Oldham version with George's commentary wins hands down, really professional

Lot of valid and interesting points being made and i think the vast majority of us if we had our way would return to the "traditional" aspects of rugby league where everyone knew a "Roughyed" was Oldham, a "Wire" was from Warrington and a "Chemic" from Widnes and so on. Trouble is in this new modern social media driven world especially in Rugby League where the RFL are trying to carbon copy the NRL having some sort of moniker attached to your club name is the norm. My point is to try and suggest a way forward where Oldham can attract the new generation of fans / sponsors etc without having either 1) a name only an Oldhamer can relate to and understands what it means or 2) something that doesnt sound too ridiculous and can be marketed in a positive way. Using my Leigh analogy from earlier on I have a work colleague who's a season ticket holder at Leigh but refuses to buy a jersey as he's dead set against the whole Leopards thing, he thinks it the biggest bit of sacrilege ever to effect the club, he cant stand it. Its a fine line respecting the past and its traditions but having to face facts that the world has moved on, some for the good some not so good and Rugby League is trying to market itself for a new generation. I would hate for Oldham to fall behind on this and be stuck in the past but on the flip side would not want some daft nick name just for the sake of it, it would have to be done for the right reasons and with fan approval.

Difference of opinion which is fair enough although I will agree the Bear mascot from back in the 90's was not the best and was a bit cartoonish. It can be done better, as i say I'm a Chicago Bears fan and their "bears" emblem is pretty good and looks stylish on clothing, merchandise etc. Likewise the Halifax Panthers logo is a dead ringer for the one used by the Carolina Panthers NFL Team.

Whilst at the game yesterday I was talking to a few Halifax fans and commenting on how good the massive Halifax Panthers banner was that they had stretched out over the terracing at Odsal, it looked really impressive and promoted the "Panthers" name to good effect. The conversation then turned to the Halifax fans asking me "what exactly is a Roughyed when its at home?". I then went through the history of hat making and all that and tried my best to convey what a Roughyed was but i could see the Halifax fans looking back at me thinking "OK err!!!". Their response just made me ponder again something I've long held thought, whilst I'm all for tradition and respect the past of the Oldham club times have changed and if we want to attract new fans is not the Roughyeds name a bit "old hat" - pardon the pun The club at the moment is in a fantastic position, great things are happening on and off the pitch and the only way is forward however is our current nickname however close to our hearts that it is holding us back a little in the modern world? I was imagining for arguments sake say in the near future Oldham achieve Super League and they are involved in a televised game say against Leeds for example, how many Sky TV viewers would be sat their thinking "Rhino's v Roughyeds, what the blooming heck is a Roughyed???" For me this is long held view and back in the day I actually embraced the "Oldham Bears" name that we had for a few years. Probably resonated with me this as I've always been a fan of the Chicago Bears NFL Team and their "Bears" merchandise is second to none. Just taking "Bears" as I'm bias as an example I'm pretty sure that is highly marketable and something young kids who we want to attract to Oldham Rugby can relate to. Trying to market a "Roughyed" to current non fans and business's to me seems s bit of am uphill struggle as its from a bygone age and we need to look forward to attract the new generation of fans / sponsors etc. I know there was a lot of initial uproar a few seasons ago when Leigh went from the "Centurions" to the "Leopard's" but we can all see how well that turned out although having a strip in Leopard print still looks god awful, I think Oldham can keep the traditional look we have now but have more relatable off field marketing. Just an though? The club and all involved are doing a fantastic job and are making great strides i just hope that tradition (which s/b respected and never forgotten) is maybe holding us back a little and alienating a new generation of followers to Oldham Rugby League!

Great win by Oldham today against a strong, resilient and at times dangerous Halifax side. Yep it wasn't champagne rugby and also a few discipline errors that could have cost us but all round i thought it was a good professional performance and a well earned two points. As I've posted on the Facebook page, shout out to Farnworth who i thought had his best game for a while. Also Elijah Taylor and Ben O'Keefe, both had really good games in my opinion (ET you were a bit hard on yourself in the post match interview with George!!). Then the usual plaudits for Josh Drinkwater who just make the game look so easy, absolute masterstroke signing him this season and now having him stay till end of 2026. I don't know what Oldham are paying him but he's worth every penny.

I'd hope and assume this is just a "one off" due to delay's with the pitch maintenance. If you sign a 10 year lease to be tenants I'd be pretty surprised if there were not conditions in there that would stop Latic's kicking the rugby out of Boundary Park for some games willy nilly, there would have a genuine good reason and I'm sure BQ / MF would not have signed up without certain guarantee's. I think on this occasion its one that is unfortunate but could not be avoided plus given the owners of Latic's are now a hell of a lot better than previous I dont think there is anything underhand going on. It is what it is so personally I don't think we have to much to be concerned with or there is some underhand conspiracy going on. If you are a tenant you are always at the mercy of your landlord but relations between the football and rugby seem to be good at the moment so this is just one of those unfortunate instances where we just have to suck it up and get on with it. From what i remember of Sedgley Park if its a nice sunny day when we play Widnes the atmosphere there is pretty good and its only for one game so lets make the best of it and hope for a good day! COME ON OLDHAM!!!!

GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!! Fantastic news!!!!!!

Christ i forgot about that one, now that did look like bomb had hit it.

Just been reading a few other clubs forum's and Facebook pages regarding Halifax having to move to Odsal for their next five games, some really quite amusing comments being made proper mocking Odsal so well worth a read. Made me think though what is my favourite & least favourite away ground to visit:- Favourite - for me its always been Batley, yes i know the pitch has a slope on a par with climbing Ben Nevis but for me the stadium is really good and always has a good atmosphere. Yep nothing special and basic for this level of RL but does exactly what it says on the tin, always enjoyed visiting Batley and looking forward to going there later in the season. Least Favourite - apart from Odsal which is just god awful for some reason I cannot stand Featherstone, just an odd looking stadium with all 4 sides different and disjointed plus the fact when I've been previous there was always someone banging a blooming drum non stop proper doing my head in. I remember a load of Oldham fans on a previous visit shouting over to this individual to "shut the bleep up" but to no avail. Plus the fact it always seems to rain when I've been there so not many happy memories. Anyone else have any good / bad grounds they've been to?

Blooming heck, Watersheddings in its final days was a state of the art stadium when comparing it to Odsal, I hope its a sunny day when we play there

Really good watch the latest episode of the Boundary Line. I like Bill Quinn's attitude of "saying it as it is" and not sugar coating things. Might ruffle a few feathers now and again but for me a fantastic chairman with the club's best interests at heart, long may he continue to do the good work that he does. COME ON OLDHAM !!!!!!!