OUR popular mascot Roary will be out and about this Easter, promoting rugby league in general and Roughyeds in particular in his own inimitable style.
He isn’t one of the best-loved mascots in the sport without good reason, as lots of local children will find out over the next couple of days.
Tomorrow (Good Friday) Spindles are hosting a children’s Easter Fun Day from noon until 4pm and they are having face painting, Easter activities, an Easter bunny and lots of entertainment.
Roary will be there, and so will his counterpart from Rochdale, Hooper the Hornet, both of whom will be promoting the Good Friday derby clash between these near neighbours, Roughyeds and Hornets, at the Vestacare Stadium, Limehurst Village later the same evening.
Children will meet and greet both mascots and have photo opportunities with them as part of the Spindles experience.
Said Roary:
“We want to get children from both Oldham and Rochdale to attend Spindles before our Good Friday game, and then if they come to the big game they’ll find Hooper and Roary there too.
“We might be rivals and we are both desperate for our team to win, but we are good pals really and that’s the message we will be striving to get through to the kids. Despite club loyalties and sporting rivalry we are all friends and part of what we know as the Rugby League Family.”
That’s Friday taken care of.
On Saturday, Roary will be out again on the children’s ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital, distributing donated Easter eggs to the children along with Roughyeds’ players, our club’s chief photographer David Murgatroyd and the man who has organised it all, Samuel Doyle, a member of the squad’s backroom support team.
“Sam’s arranged everything with Louise from the children’s ward play team,”
explained Dave Murgy, who will be there with his camera ready to click, click, click.
Lewis Sheridan, Luke Nelmes and Sam Bardsley have promised to be there and other players will hopefully join them …as will Roary, of course.
It’s a toss-up who will want to get their teeth into any spare Easter eggs — Dave Murgy, Nelmsie or Roary.
Added Murgy:
“We’ll be there to spread a little bit of joy, but don’t rule out some friendly competition if there’s an Easter egg going spare.”
Eggs have been donated by the players, YEDS Supporters group and by the club’s chief sponsors for this season and next, Amari Plastics Manchester.
