STU Littler and his merry band of Roughyeds’ new boys – 14 of the 20 players signed so far will be dragging on the famous Oldham jersey for the first time – face a tough start in next season’s Betfred League One campaign with Keighley Cougars at home first and then Hunslet away.
Several of our new boys have played for Keighley and/or Hunslet in the recent past, so the first two games, on March 27 and April 3, will be of special significance to clubs and players.
Each of our ten home games is given with a 3pm Sunday kick-off at a venue still to be confirmed, but the RFL is keen to point out that all fixtures at all clubs (dates and times) are subject to change.
Roughyeds fans should particularly keep an eye open for alterations to the two games against Cornwall which are given initially as Sunday, April 24 (3pm) at home and Sunday, August 21 (1pm) away.
Cornwall are one of two new clubs in the 11-team division, the other one being Midlands Hurricanes, a Coventry rebrand which will be based in Birmingham.
We’re at home to the Hurricanes on Sunday, June 12 and away on Sunday, August 7 (3pm).
We’ve also got a trip to London Skolars on Friday, May 27, kicking off at 7pm.
Nearer to home, we go to the Crown Oil Arena to play derby rivals Rochdale Hornets on Good Friday, April 15 (3pm) and play them at home on Sunday, July 10.
The other long-awaited derbies with Swinton Lions take place on Sunday, June 5 at home and on Sunday, August 28 at Heywood Road.
We will play on three away grounds for the first time – at the Memorial Ground in Penryn (Cornwall), at the Zip World Stadium in Colwyn Bay (North Wales Crusaders) and at the Forshaw Heath Lane Ground, Portway, Birmingham (Midlands Hurricanes).
We go to Colwyn Bay on Saturday, May 14 (5.30pm). The West Wales game in Llanelli, on July 23, is also on a Saturday.
The regular season ends on Sunday, September 4 with the visit of Hunslet to our unconfirmed home venue.
