Is it time for a "Roughyeds" rebrand??

[Oldham Valderama]

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!

 

[fiftiesremembered]

Great post. The kids, in particular, who are  our future would, I'M sure take much more enthusiastically to something they can relate to.

I envy Leopards, Bulls, Cougars etc.

I have friends near Leigh ground, and all along the road leading to the stadium are banners, declaring  'Hear the roar'. "be the roar'. Impressive.

[Tim G]

1 hour ago, Oldham Valderama said:

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!

 

Totally agree with these comments and no doubt Mike and Bill are thinking along similar lines.

I suggest we get our heads together and think of something outside the norm?

After just a couple of minutes I thought of Oldham Meerkats.  Or Oldham Sasquatch. All gimmicks but that's what gets people aware of your product.  

Finally and think long and hard about this. Oldham Athletic RL .  

 

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

Aaaaagh!!!! Roughyeds is a great name for a rugby team. It's unique, there are more panthers, Warriors, bulls, saints, Rovers, Hornets and crusaders than you can throw a stick at. There's only one Roughyeds. Although it has a history that is quite dull and laborious,  a Roughyed is whatever you want it to be. A bear, a lion, anything. But please not that ginger snap crackle and pop mascot from years ago. Anyone who says you can't market a Roughyed needs to hand branding to someone who does.

[Oldham Valderama]

49 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

Aaaaagh!!!! Roughyeds is a great name for a rugby team. It's unique, there are more panthers, Warriors, bulls, saints, Rovers, Hornets and crusaders than you can throw a stick at. There's only one Roughyeds. Although it has a history that is quite dull and laborious,  a Roughyed is whatever you want it to be. A bear, a lion, anything. But please not that ginger snap crackle and pop mascot from years ago. Anyone who says you can't market a Roughyed needs to hand branding to someone who does.

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.

 

[PaulB1984]

There was a topic around this on the forum not long ago. I think it needs looking at for sure, dont think it needs to be a gimmick animal name or something that doesnt represent Oldham. I think if you get it right, you can even keep the Roughyed involved!

My suggestion for whta its worth is to re-brand us the Oldham Edge, its unique and has relevance to both the town geographically and 'gaining the edge' in sporting terms. Can be utilised similar to the 'Stronger Together' messaging. Great for branding/website/social media etc.

Edited June 30 by PaulB1984

[tandle]

oldham titans think of another team called titans

[Bert Street]

Will always just be ' the rugby ' for me.

As long as it is called Oldham and plays rugby league in the town, brand it  as what you will.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

The thing is to understand what a 'Brand' is. To paraphrase Rod Stewart a brand is in your heart it's in your soul. Harley Davidson is not just a mode of transport. It has an intangible meaning to its users. Roughyeds is us, it's our history,  it's Oldham RFL. It's 1876 and 1895, it's Joseph Platt,  it's 1957. It's more than a cuddly toy. Although any cuddly toy could be sold as representing what 'Roughyed ' means to us.

[Bert Street]

7 minutes ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

The thing is to understand what a 'Brand' is. To paraphrase Rod Stewart a brand is in your heart it's in your soul. Harley Davidson is not just a mode of transport. It has an intangible meaning to its users. Roughyeds is us, it's our history,  it's Oldham RFL. It's 1876 and 1895, it's Joseph Platt,  it's 1957. It's more than a cuddly toy. Although any cuddly toy could be sold as representing what 'Roughyed ' means to us.

Oddly don't remember much talk about Roughyeds in the  70s and 80s. I know it was a generic for Oldhamers, but wasn't overwhelmingly applied to the club or team.

Tended to be the rugby or Sheddings.

[Oldham Valderama]

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.   

[glemiln]

“There's only one Roughyeds.”

Actually, quite a lot from my recollection of some Friday nights ‘wandering’ from Rochdale!

 

[fiftiesremembered]

Oldham Phoenix would be appropriate - certainly 'risen from the dead'

Also a good emblem

[Tim G]

If there is to be a name change, make it as big an issue as possible.  Get publicity across the media that there is a competition for the best name for Oldham RLFC.  It could possibly get on the local news and become a talking point.  Our marketing team could contact all the RL news outlets.  

The winner could say get a signed shirt, free season ticket? 

 

[wozzeryedhead]

23 minutes ago, fiftiesremembered said:

Oldham Phoenix would be appropriate - certainly 'risen from the dead'

Also a good emblem

Clever idea  

[wozzeryedhead]

Oldham cobras   

[sheddingswasus]

When they have a successful brand which the Roughyeds is, why would they change. Think Roughyeds TV. The club had a chance to change it when they took over and as far as I know decided it was a solid brand. 

[E Stand]

Aren't we in danger of delving into minutiae here?

A suffix is an anathema me, a rugby team proudly bears the name of the town/city it represents. That's it - full stop.

Despite the hugh Panthers banner draped across the empty Odsal terraces, the real question is why only 1300 were present, many from Oldham. 

The 30yr Sky experiment to increase standards,crowds and competitiveness has manifestly failed the game as a whole.

Sky money should be distributed evenly between Member Clubs. If some SL clubs then go part time, so be it. Clubs would compete on an even footing,and the more successful would be rewarded with larger crowds, trophies etc.

Split the Clubs into 2 divisions, with promotion and relegation. 

Apply minimum standards in a common sense manner depending on local circumstances, size of crowds etc.

Open up the whole of grounds, so depressing to see 3 sides empty, again stewarding/catering related to crowd size, applied on a common sense basis.

Special players should be promoted to attract spectators. We have Drinkwater, Hornets have Else, York Harris etc.

Fans consider RL the best sport in the world to watch and play, a view clearly not shared by the wider public. 

Having kicked IMG into touch, the RL's current strategic review should address the core issue of attendances. 

A clever or catchy suffix or nickname isn't going to cut the mustard. 

[jroyales]

Has IMG gone?

[sheddingswasus]

The reality is sport on the UK traditionally enjoys p & r. It is what adds jeopardy to the completion. Image of there was no chance of getting into footballs PL. Just because the Aussie have a closed shop didn’t he  a n we should. The only reason SL has currently gone fine this route is the insular attitude of the SL boards. 
For too long we have allowed this to happen with some clubs trying to lower standards and drag the better run clubs to their level. Salford, cas and more. 

[sheddingswasus]

Incidently, the Club was always Oldham FC and then RLFC. 
The Roughyeds was a nickname, just like Hill were the Airley Birds, Warrington were the wire. And so on. 
Even now the club uses the nickname of Roughyeds but it isn’t in  their official name. 

[Anita Bath]

6 hours ago, sheddingswasus said:

Incidently, the Club was always Oldham FC and then RLFC. 
The Roughyeds was a nickname, just like Hill were the Airley Birds, Warrington were the wire. And so on. 
Even now the club uses the nickname of Roughyeds but it isn’t in  their official name. 

From memory the clubs that had nicknames as part of their official name were Rochdale Hornets, Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Northern, hull kingston rovers, wakefield trinity, workington town, liverpool city, blackpool borough. Belle Vue Rangers.

[Stevos Barber]

If we did rebrand I'd support the Phoenix addition.  It might make PLT stay  but I'd rather we stayed as we are. It hasn't done Hull FC any harm. Use Roary as a basis for merchandise as they do with Airlie Bird. 

I'm not convinced of made up names. I still hear chants for "Wire" when I watch Warrington

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

19 hours ago, Bert Street said:

Oddly don't remember much talk about Roughyeds in the  70s and 80s. I know it was a generic for Oldhamers, but wasn't overwhelmingly applied to the club or team.

Tended to be the rugby or Sheddings.

Youre right. My first recollection of the term was Eddie Waring on TV saying 'aa and we are at aa a  Waterrrrsheddings the home of Oldham a aa Rrrroughyeds'. It became a much bigger thing during the superleague Bears years. Remember the T Shirt with the bear on it and Roughyeds emblazoned across the top?

Edited July 1 by The Art of Hand and Foot

[Bert Street]

2 hours ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

Youre right. My first recollection of the term was Eddie Waring on TV saying 'aa and we are at aa a  Waterrrrsheddings the home of Oldham a aa Rrrroughyeds'. It became a much bigger thing during the superleague Bears years. Remember the T Shirt with the bear on it and Roughyeds emblazoned across the top?

Very good Waring notation this.

Enjoyed walking down many a Booolevaarrdd in Toulouse.