Oldham managing director Mike Ford has challenged the club’s core fan base to “bring one more person” each as attendances to watch Sean Long’s exciting table-toppers continue to grow.
On the eve of the first Fans’ Forum event of the season to be held at Saddleworth Rangers tonight (Thursday 11th), Ford has highlighted the exciting brand of rugby league being played by the Roughyeds as a key factor in growing attendances.
Oldham host Cornwall this Sunday, two weeks after a biggest home league crowd in 16 years to watch the derby win over Rochdale, and Ford believes the team is fast becoming the hottest ticket outside of Super League.
“If I was a fan I would want to come here and watch PLT (Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e) play,” said Ford in an exclusive interview with Roughyeds TV.
“The kid is electric and I want to see that, I want to see Elijah Taylor play, with Craig Kopczak and Matty Wildie playing dazzling rugby. I’m pretty old school and like the defensive side but we are producing an on-field product that we now have to match off the field.”
Ford will join chairman Bill Quinn, director Haydn Walker, head coach Sean Long and captain Jordan Turner at the Saddleworth Fans’ Forum, which follows an open training session between Rangers and Oldham which is free to observe for fans.
And Ford says that re-engaging with the community is integral to the board’s plans to re-energise rugby league in Oldham.
“We are forming great relationships again with amateur clubs, we can go to local businesses, schools, but we need to attract new fans,” Ford added.
“This is not my club or Bill Quinn’s club this is our club, the fans’ club. We had great support at Hunslet and I would think we doubled their attendance. There was chanting and singing that I had not heard for a long time. If all our core supporters who go home and away could bring one more person, then it won’t be long before we open the Rochdale Road end at Boundary Park.
“But we need your help, we are stronger together, and I’m curious – are we going to get back to crowds of 8000 or 9000? The opportunity this town has got collectively to fill this stadium is huge.”
Oldham will play Saddleworth in a training game at Shaw Hall Bank Road, 6:30pm Thursday April 11th, with the Fans’ Forum starting at 8:30pm in the clubhouse.
Entry is free.
