Oldham RLFC has confirmed that, as in previous years, the RFL has granted the club dispensation to use the Vestacare Stadium in 2018 although it doesn’t have the requisite 500 seats.
The club acknowledges that the Vestacare Stadium doesn’t meet RFL minimum standards in terms of Betfred League 1 seating capacities and says it is grateful to the governing body for granting the dispensation.
In reaching its decision, the RFL took into account the recent investment in the stadium and its subsequent refurbishing.
News of the RFL’s green light will come as another huge tonic for the club in the run-up to the first home league game of 2018 against Hemel Stags on Sunday (3pm kick-off).
Roughyeds have bounced back from the bitter disappointment of relegation from the Championship at the end of last season to retain coach Scott Naylor on a two-year contract; to sign 13 new players in a huge dressing room turnover; to regain the Law Cup with pre-season victory at Rochdale; to win at Whitehaven on the opening day of the League 1 season for the first time in 17 years; and to play its last 160 minutes of rugby without conceding a single point.
Hemel is next on Sunday and then Roughyeds will be eagerly looking forward to the visit on March 11 of York City Knights, another club that seems to be heading in the right direction. A cracking game is in prospect.
