SEVEN DAYS TO GO . . . and our whole club (senior management, coaching staff, players and fans) can’t wait for the dawning of the day that will herald the start of the long-awaited 2022 Betfred League One season.
Mark down next Sunday, March 27 as the start of a new era in the history of Oldham Rugby League Club.
Many aspects of the club and its personnel are “new” and it is, of course, the start of our 25th Anniversary season since that famous day in 1998 when our brand-new hurriedly-assembled squad turned out for the first time in the Law Cup at Rochdale — and won handsomely.
Fast-forward nearly quarter of a century and we’ve got our new slogan: “Building the YEDS together”, which references what we are all about — club, squad and fans, who now have their new Supporters’ Group, led by the brothers Jamie and Chris Hollingworth and John Davies.
Head coach Stu Littler hopes to have most of his 26 players available for the big kick-off game against Keighley Cougars at the Vestacare Stadium next Sunday (March 27), but he will definitely be without young hooker Sean Slater, who will be out for a few weeks with the knee injury he picked up in the warm-up win at Keighley.
The young Oldham-born No 9 or half-back, thrilled and excited at the prospect of playing for his home town, is devastated to miss the start of the campaign, but the caring arm of the Roughyeds camp will be wrapped around him as he prepares for his specially-prepared programme of rehabilitation.
Said head coach Stuart:
“We need to support him and be there for him mentally as much as anything. For a 20-year-old like Sean, who was all fired up to be playing for his hometown club, this is a huge disappointment, but he can rest assured that we are all there rooting for him and supporting him and we will be throughout his rehab, which could take several weeks.”
The good news on Sean is that he doesn’t require surgery, but he has a tear in a medial ligament which could take a few weeks to repair.
As for the four who were unable to play in the 34-26 friendly win at Cougar Park, Jack Arnold, Jordan Andrade and Calvin Wellington are now back in full training and may be available for the big kick-off, depending on their progress in the coming week.
Jason Muranka, who is still undergoing head-injury protocols, will see a consultant this week so fingers crossed for Jason too.
Said Stu:
“As far as injuries are concerned, we are relatively in a good place.
“We are all itching to get started and we look forward to our opening league game and what we hope will be a good crowd to give the boys all the support they deserve.”
+ The club reports that tickets for our big fund-raising, new-season draw (please refer to the website news story headed ‘We need YOU in our vital prize draw’) are going well. Thanks to all who have purchased already and in anticipation to those who will be buying online in the next few days.
Tickets cost £5 for the chance to win one of 16 top-class prizes in a draw in which we are linked up with Play Fund Win, the revolutionary digital fund-raising platform that makes raising money relatively simple for sports clubs, other events and organisations and charities.
