OLDHAM Chairman Chris Hamilton was almost fighting back the tears as he savoured the greatest achievement in his 18-year tenure at Oldham yesterday afternoon.
Hamilton, who rescued and rebuilt the club from nothing in 1997, had witnessed no fewer than six Grand Final defeats in eight years at third tier level, but he was able to savour the champagne spraying with the rest of his team after clinching the Kingstone Press League Championship and promotion to the Championship with a 31-20 victory over Keighley.
“You can’t make up for all the hurt and disappointments we’ve had, ” said Hamilton
“But I don’t want to sound ungrateful because I am so happy at what we’ve done today. “No-one can argue about what we’ve achieved this season and that we don’t deserve promotion.”
Roughyeds head coach Scott Naylor, who has been at the club since 2012 said; “The lads deserve the credit for what they have done from day one.
“They have been absolutely outstanding and deserve everything they have got this year.”
To read more about Oldham’s triumph, including a full-page spread on the match, buy this week’s League Express, available in stores now.
