MIKE Ford has again talked publicly about the goodwill, co-operation and willingness to help each other as shown by Oldham Athletic FC, Oldham Council and Oldham RLFC in the talks leading up to the agreement which will see Roughyeds playing at Athletic’s Boundary Park Stadium next season.
Speaking shortly before Friday morning’s hugely important Sponsors’ Breakfast in the smart, comfortable, fully furnished and highly-desirable Joe Royle stand at Boundary Park, the Roughyeds managing director said the big triumvirate of Athletic, Oldham Rugby and Oldham Council had excellent relationships and were working as one to put our town back on the sporting map.
“We’re all in this together,” said Ford, “and together we’ll get where we want to be. “Our relationship with Athletic has never been better and both clubs are working hand in hand with Oldham Council to try and make all our dreams come true.”
The long-term plan, he said, was for Boundary Park to become the sporting hub of the town and it was to that end that the Council had installed a brand-new, high quality pitch costing a cool £1M.
Frank Rothwell, Athletic’s wealthy new owner, also thanked the Council for its investment and added:
“The Council takes some stick, but it has done a great job in bringing all this together. It’s for the good of the town, not just Athletic and Oldham Rugby, and that’s what it should be.”
Backing up his statement that Roughyeds were indebted to Frank and his board of directors for their all their help and co-operation in the ground-share talks and agreements, Ford confirmed that Athletic’s chief and his wife were Oldham Rugby’s guests at a recent home game at the Vestacare Stadium and that Frank had been invited to attend the Sponsors’ Breakfast.
He also said that Oldham Rugby chairman Bill Quinn and he (Ford) had attended, by invitation, a recent Networking meeting in which Athletic met their supporters for talks about the club’s future.
Added Ford:
“Our relationships are very close and long may that continue. Like Athletic, we are going places, but to get there we need the town behind us. As I’v e said so many times before, this is not our club, we are merely custodians. It’s YOUR club, YOUR towm and we need YOUR support to help us on our way.”
Ford himself will present a two-minute film about the club; Michael Bradshaw (better known as Braddy) will MC the whole event; and there will be four directors present, namely Bill Quinn, Ford, Jim Minton and Simon Winnard.
Haydn Walker, who lives in Wigan, has sent his apologies because he is incapacitated after illness and major surgery.
Potential sponsors and business men will have breakfast and be taken on a guided tour of the Joe Royle stand, with particular emphasis given to boxes, hospitality suites and pre-match menu, ranging from pie and peas to a more sophisticated meal.
Added Ford:
“We can cater for all tastes and pockets. The objective behind Friday’s Breakfast is to let people know what’s on offer and then it’s up to them. The important thing for people to know in advance of the visit is that facilities in the Joe Royle stand are very, very good.”
Visitors will also be given a chance to see images of next season’s kit, which we imagine will be well received.
Ford finished with this:
“It will be a very important occasion for the club and one in which the directors will mingle with supporters and tell them as much as they can about our vision for the future and the plans that lie ahead.”
Among those invited to be involved in a Q and A session are Athletic owner Frank Rothwell and Nicola Robinson, general manager of the Manchester branch of Amari Plastics, who are nearly half-way through a two-year deal as the club’s main sponsor.
A lot of local companies have tickets; others are down on a list of those attending. You can still book a place today by going on the Roughyeds website and following the links, but the club says no one will be turned away so just turn up if you haven’t made prior arrangementd by tonight.
You won’t be disappointed irrespective of whether you take out a sponsorship or book a box.
