THREE days to go . . . and Roary, our FAN-tastic club mascot and King Of The Kids, talks to us of his upcoming fun day at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday and how he is enjoying his “new lease of life” at the Roughyeds after a two-year lockdown for lions.
Speaking as part of the build-up to the history-making game against Cornwall RLFC (3pm kick-off), Roary enthused:
“I could even have a fresh pair of dancing shoes. That’s how much I’m up for it !”
Including his two-year lockdown, when he couldn’t even visit his mates in the African scrublands, Roary has been a Roughyeds’ lion-heart for nearly a decade. He loves living here and he absolutely revels in his role of club mascot.
Furthermore, he can’t wait to be at the head again of the new Roary’s Pride group for boys and girls which will be launched soon after proving to be a smash hit in 2019 before Covid struck.
Restrictions caused by the pandemic forced Pride to be placed on hold, but our loveable lion always intended it to be re-formed – and now he and his helpers are nearly there and looking forward to its big comeback in the next few weeks.
Said Roary:
“It’s going to be bigger and better than first time around, and that was good. We are just working out a sponsorship deal with Rugby Oldham, the Supporters’ Trust, and finalising one or two bits and pieces, and then we’ll be good to go.
“Pride members loved being part of the club when we were up and running in 2019 and I’m sure we will be even more successful as a group this time.
“It gives me great pride to support my home-town club AND my home town. I’m thrilled by all that’s going on behind the scenes in terms of our Partnership groups and I literally can’t wait to get down to the Vestacare every time we have a home game.
“It’s a privilege to represent my club and my town away from the Vestacare, be it on away grounds or at social events around town. It’s always an honour to wear the crest on my chest.
“I’m trying to get more active on social media and out in the community.”
Anyone wishing to contact Roary – to register an interest in joining Roary’s Pride, to help with social media, for any other rugby-related matter or to invite him to roar at a social event – can email him please at: nathanmurgatroyd@hotmail.com
The plan is to launch Roary’s Pride 2 on a hot summer’s game-day in June, but there are home games before then, like this Sunday’s Cornwall match, when Roary will be there to meet you and greet you.
Under-16s go FREE, by the way, and they love him.
