THE people who are striving hard to restore junior town-team rugby league, namely Mike Ford, Joe Warburton, Oldham RLFC and the four-man committee which has been appointed to oversee it, namely Warburton, John Byram, Paddy McGuirk (Limehurst Lions) and Andy Deakin (Oldham St Anne’s), were absolutely thrilled and delighted when more than 230 youngsters and 20 coaches turned up at Melrose Playing Fields last Saturday morning (pictured) for our borough’s first town-team training session for under-11s to under-14s inclusive, four age-groups in total, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
Former Oldham and Great Britain scrum-half star Mike Ford, back in town as new managing director of Oldham Rugby League Club and a man whose vision is to see Oldham back as a top Rugby League town at all levels, is working closely with Warburton, another former Oldham player, to see local boys given the opportunity to represent their town again, and wear those famous red-and-white hoops while still in their formative years.
Coaches and assistants for each of the four age-groups have been appointed, a four-man committee will oversee the plan and Ford and two of his three sons, Joe and George, capped 82 times by England RU, have met the coaches, trained them and talked to them about their plans, hopes and ambitions for the Oldham of the future.
The plan still hinged on the interests and ambitions of Oldham’s young people — and when more than 230 of them turned up at Melrose it more than confirmed the organisers’ firm convictions that that they were moving in the right direction.
Said Warburton:
“It was a fantastic start. To see so many local clubs represented by players and coaches brought a lump to the throat. This was Oldham — the Oldham I remember; the Oldham I want to see again. Since we announced that we were trying to get this off the ground I have had a lot of conversations with people in Oldham saying what we are doing is what’s needed to bring back town team/service area rugby.
“I have also had calls from other coaches in other towns saying they would be interested in playing a team from Oldham. This has also prompted a discussion with the RFL.
“Our next session is at the same venue this coming Saturday (July 1) when we hope for a similar turn-out. This has certainly got the town’s junior sections buzzing about rugby again with the prospect of young players again pulling on an Oldham jersey. I attended a couple of matches last weekend and everyone is totally positive about it.”
Mike Ford added:
“This is exactly what we need and want. It’s the start of a pathway towards Roughyeds. Joe and his fellow enthusiasts for this are doing a great job. To get 230 young players there on day one is brilliant.”
