Fond memories of their former leader Bernard Halford, who died nearly five years ago at the age of 77, will live on for ever if it’s anything to do with the Oldham Players’ Association.
Bernard was best known as Life President of Manchester City, a club he served as secretary for the best part of a working lifetime, but in his younger days, while growing up in Chadderton, he played rugby league for Oldham at Watersheddings. He became a leading official of the Players’ Assn – a position he held for many years, during which he went beyond the call of duty to keep the Assn running.
John Watkins and Ray Hicks, of the Assn, accompanied by keen Roughyeds fan Andy Clare and former City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan, handed over £400 to The Christie Hospital in Manchester in memory of Bernard.
City donated a signed Erling Haaland shirt to be auctioned off at the recent Oldham RL Players’ Assn dinner at St Herbert’s, Broadway.
Colin Hawkyard
The Players’ Association also had a strong presence at the funeral in Huddersfield of former Oldham forward Colin Hawkyard. The Association was represented by John Watkins, Ray Hicks, Ray Hill, Tony Finan, Andy Clare and Mike Ford, who was there in a double role, both as an ex-player who played at the same time as Colin and as current managing director of the club.
Peter Rush
The funeral of former Rochdale Hornets chairman Peter Rush, first and foremost a Rugby League man with many friends in the Oldham area at all levels of the game, will be held on Friday, March 8, at 10am at St Luke’s Church in Heywood.
