Things to try to boost attendances

[spw1]

Where do you start with the attendance problems, I’m a dyed in the wool ORLFC supporter of some 60 years + so after 40 years or more of a nomadic existence I liken ourselves to a rugby league club from a new area, even though we are a name still talked about in RL circles. 

We know that we probably have 800 - 1000 diehard supporters who only go to matches for the on field entertainment which at the moment is great to watch, unfortunately that’s not enough to lure new support and I’m talking mainly about kids they need more off- field entertainment to heighten their interest, we have to walk before we can run, every school child in Oldham should be given the option for a free ticket which will probably generate at least 1 full paying adult to bring them. 

 

I am a lapsed Latics fan as well as a Rugby fan so I know from personal experience that it works, my 4 grandchildren took up The Latics option of free school child tickets so subsequently 6 full paying adults accompanied the 4 free children, but the benefit doesn’t stop there, they want food and drinks, they want merchandise, my grandchildren have bought shirts, it’s a win win situation, but it won’t happen overnight. Once these children identify with the club

you’ve probably got a lifelong supporter 

 

 When SL first started there was an Oldhamer called Steve Deakin who worked for The Bradford Bulls and he transformed the match day experience not only for kids but for everyone it was pure theatre, so for me that’s what our club needs to aim for, obviously on a lesser scale. 

 

Bring back Halftime kids games, how many of those kids will bring relatives and friends, length of the field running competitions, face painting, have themes every game Superheroes is one that comes to mind, these face paintings could be judged by the crowd for the best one on the day basically a clapometer, loudest applause wins. player meet-and-greets and autograph sessions. 

 

By the way I’m not a huge fan of all this razzmatazz but unfortunately it’s seems to work these days, I’ll accept anything if it keeps my club alive. 

[chiefgeneral]

I think the first step is getting into schools and promoting the team/game.

I know someone who has directly offered to help with this and was completely ignored 

[yedforevvver81]

9 hours ago, chiefgeneral said:

I think the first step is getting into schools and promoting the team/game.

I know someone who has directly offered to help with this and was completely ignored 

Genuinely the club last season went into schools on several occasions and gave out free tickets and parents in for a tenner

latics then stopped all curtain raisers 

if you had your own ground you could do so much more and until that happens bp is not the place for orlfc

they can’t afford to let us in for nothing and crowds were getting will eventually dull anyone’s enthusiasm 

lots of things tried by the club with little success 

then what happens when we have only a mediocre squad and lose games crowd will go down more

people of Oldham will not support a rugby club with the numbers to move the club forward 

stay at Boundry park and go bust 

sad but true, mark my words this is the way the future will pan out

you will all disagree but keep this post and in three to four years see where the club is again 

[chiefgeneral]

Ah didn't realise or see it published they went into schools. Do you know which they went into?

Definitely missed my lads school

[herbie]

9 minutes ago, yedforevvver81 said:

Genuinely the club last season went into schools on several occasions and gave out free tickets and parents in for a tenner

latics then stopped all curtain raisers 

if you had your own ground you could do so much more and until that happens bp is not the place for orlfc

they can’t afford to let us in for nothing and crowds were getting will eventually dull anyone’s enthusiasm 

lots of things tried by the club with little success 

then what happens when we have only a mediocre squad and lose games crowd will go down more

people of Oldham will not support a rugby club with the numbers to move the club forward 

stay at Boundry park and go bust 

sad but true, mark my words this is the way the future will pan out

you will all disagree but keep this post and in three to four years see where the club is again 

Which schools?

There was a curtain raiser on the pitch on Friday.

[yedforevvver81]

I’m talking about last season not now

chris Chamberlin head of the foundation went into several different schools and gave out hundreds of free tickets, I’m sure he will be able to answer your questions 

[RoytonRoughyed83]

13 hours ago, chiefgeneral said:

Ah didn't realise or see it published they went into schools. Do you know which they went into?

Definitely missed my lads school

Missed my lads aswell and daughters 

[sheddingswasus]

Plus North Chadderton. Biggest rugby school in Oldham plus supplies quite a few lads in the pathway teams. 
But for Chris it is a work in progress. Now he has achieved Charitable status it opens many more doors 

[yedforevvver81]

Yes but opening doors is not bringing in fans

last year and season before on several occasions the club brought in face painting and fun fair they both stopped because no one using them and there you have it.

you can’t keep doing the same things expecting a different result 

[chiefgeneral]

Saddleworth school is another big one. You walk in there and see an number of ex pros shirts from RL. Don't see any latics shirts 

[jaybee]

On 23/05/2026 at 12:13, spw1 said:

 

Where do you start with the attendance problems, I’m a dyed in the wool ORLFC supporter of some 60 years + so after 40 years or more of a nomadic existence I liken ourselves to a rugby league club from a new area, even though we are a name still talked about in RL circles. 

We know that we probably have 800 - 1000 diehard supporters who only go to matches for the on field entertainment which at the moment is great to watch, unfortunately that’s not enough to lure new support and I’m talking mainly about kids they need more off- field entertainment to heighten their interest, we have to walk before we can run, every school child in Oldham should be given the option for a free ticket which will probably generate at least 1 full paying adult to bring them. 

 

I am a lapsed Latics fan as well as a Rugby fan so I know from personal experience that it works, my 4 grandchildren took up The Latics option of free school child tickets so subsequently 6 full paying adults accompanied the 4 free children, but the benefit doesn’t stop there, they want food and drinks, they want merchandise, my grandchildren have bought shirts, it’s a win win situation, but it won’t happen overnight. Once these children identify with the club

you’ve probably got a lifelong supporter 

 

 When SL first started there was an Oldhamer called Steve Deakin who worked for The Bradford Bulls and he transformed the match day experience not only for kids but for everyone it was pure theatre, so for me that’s what our club needs to aim for, obviously on a lesser scale. 

 

Bring back Halftime kids games, how many of those kids will bring relatives and friends, length of the field running competitions, face painting, have themes every game Superheroes is one that comes to mind, these face paintings could be judged by the crowd for the best one on the day basically a clapometer, loudest applause wins. player meet-and-greets and autograph sessions. 

 

By the way I’m not a huge fan of all this razzmatazz but unfortunately it’s seems to work these days, I’ll accept anything if it keeps my club alive. 

Kids already get in free

[jaybee]

On 23/05/2026 at 12:13, spw1 said:

 

Where do you start with the attendance problems, I’m a dyed in the wool ORLFC supporter of some 60 years + so after 40 years or more of a nomadic existence I liken ourselves to a rugby league club from a new area, even though we are a name still talked about in RL circles. 

We know that we probably have 800 - 1000 diehard supporters who only go to matches for the on field entertainment which at the moment is great to watch, unfortunately that’s not enough to lure new support and I’m talking mainly about kids they need more off- field entertainment to heighten their interest, we have to walk before we can run, every school child in Oldham should be given the option for a free ticket which will probably generate at least 1 full paying adult to bring them. 

 

I am a lapsed Latics fan as well as a Rugby fan so I know from personal experience that it works, my 4 grandchildren took up The Latics option of free school child tickets so subsequently 6 full paying adults accompanied the 4 free children, but the benefit doesn’t stop there, they want food and drinks, they want merchandise, my grandchildren have bought shirts, it’s a win win situation, but it won’t happen overnight. Once these children identify with the club

you’ve probably got a lifelong supporter 

 

 When SL first started there was an Oldhamer called Steve Deakin who worked for The Bradford Bulls and he transformed the match day experience not only for kids but for everyone it was pure theatre, so for me that’s what our club needs to aim for, obviously on a lesser scale. 

 

Bring back Halftime kids games, how many of those kids will bring relatives and friends, length of the field running competitions, face painting, have themes every game Superheroes is one that comes to mind, these face paintings could be judged by the crowd for the best one on the day basically a clapometer, loudest applause wins. player meet-and-greets and autograph sessions. 

 

By the way I’m not a huge fan of all this razzmatazz but unfortunately it’s seems to work these days, I’ll accept anything if it keeps my club alive. 

 

Just now, jaybee said:

Kids already get in free

 

On 23/05/2026 at 22:07, yedforevvver81 said:

Genuinely the club last season went into schools on several occasions and gave out free tickets and parents in for a tenner

latics then stopped all curtain raisers 

if you had your own ground you could do so much more and until that happens bp is not the place for orlfc

they can’t afford to let us in for nothing and crowds were getting will eventually dull anyone’s enthusiasm 

lots of things tried by the club with little success 

then what happens when we have only a mediocre squad and lose games crowd will go down more

people of Oldham will not support a rugby club with the numbers to move the club forward 

stay at Boundry park and go bust 

sad but true, mark my words this is the way the future will pan out

you will all disagree but keep this post and in three to four years see where the club is again 

Giving out tickets in schools is great but many can't go unaccompanied.

Sick of saying this but Oldham has a population of around 250,000 but ORLFC only communicate with the 1200 or so who are already going or at least interested.

They need to get out into pubs, clubs,shops and other employers to give some tickets away there. If we can get a small group of workmates going together then there is a fair chance that at least some of them will go again..

I have offered but no response 

 

 

[jaybee]

4 minutes ago, jaybee said:

 

 

Giving out tickets in schools is great but many can't go unaccompanied.

Sick of saying this but Oldham has a population of around 250,000 but ORLFC only communicate with the 1200 or so who are already going or at least interested.

They need to get out into pubs, clubs,shops and other employers to give some tickets away there. If we can get a small group of workmates going together then there is a fair chance that at least some of them will go again..

I have offered but no response 

 

 

 

[RoytonRoughyed83]

19 minutes ago, jaybee said:

 

 

Giving out tickets in schools is great but many can't go unaccompanied.

Sick of saying this but Oldham has a population of around 250,000 but ORLFC only communicate with the 1200 or so who are already going or at least interested.

They need to get out into pubs, clubs,shops and other employers to give some tickets away there. If we can get a small group of workmates going together then there is a fair chance that at least some of them will go again..

I have offered but no response 

 

 

I've had similar thoughts but its moot for now. It's now upto the new guys to figure out

[Oldham123roughyeds]

For me it's pretty simple. Get out and about in the community. I've never seen the players, coaches, board members anywhere really. We use to see them once a year in Spindles for Meet and Greets etc. Not happened for a long time. 

I'd start by doing the following making the Players, Coaches, Volunteers, Board Members go to

• Amateur Rugby Clubs - Youth
• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools
• Youth Centres (Madhlo)
• Super Markets / Spindles / High Streets

Give out 2 x Free Tickets to every child. Give a presentation of what rugby league is, what Oldham Rugby League is about and their goals. Let them meet the players who are going to be on the field. Make it personable.

If you aimed to attend 1 amateur rugby club a week, 5 primary schools, 5 secondary schools and 1 youth centre. That's probably 1000 tickets given out  a week. If you did this every week before a home game for lets say 5 home games a year. If only 10% of the Free Tickets was used. That's 100 extra attendance each home game. 

There needs to be more done. I've said this countless times to my family, Oldham RLFC fan base is predominantly concessions. The focus needs to be on the newer generation. Not just kids but also young adults as well. Enough of them are interested in sports. Open Age Teams at Saddleworth, Waterhead, St Annes, Higginshaw etc. Most have 2 teams. The interest in Rugby League is there, but for some reason doesn't transpire into Oldham RLFC.

 

Edited May 29 by Oldham123roughyeds

[Tim G]

I believe the impending promotion of London into SL is little more than a coronation, even if they were to lose the championship GF.

There is then a good chance that SL will shut shop for a minimum of 3 years for promotion and relegation.

The championship clubs then either live on life support or do something drastic.

I'm for the latter . 

1 I would go back to winter rugby. Say October to June. Crowds can't get any smaller than they are at present, yet there could be some bumper gates around Boxing day and New Year's day. Many clubs who also share with a football team won't become nomads when the ground is out of bounds during the football off-season.

2.  Watching the Throwback Thursday videos reminds me of how more entertaining RL was when players had to retreat 5 metres not 10 as present. For part time players, this gives a better chance of defending the line without being defeated by pure fatigue 

3. Scrap the six again rule. Absolute nonsense.  At best, give an extra 2 tackles for minor infringements. 

I'm sure there are many more changes we could all discuss.