Tony Finan has volunteered to become the Oldham RLFC Players’ Association’s new welfare officer — a role in which he will provide the link between the association and former Oldham players who could do with a spot of help, be it for health, financial or any other reasons.
The association will have a table at the Saddleworth Rangers Burns Night at the White Hart on Thursday, January 27.
They will also have their own upmarket social event at the White Hart on Thursday, May 12 and the committee need to know numbers at the association’s February meeting at Springhead Liberal Club on Monday, February 7 at 7.45pm.
At its January meeting, secretary Joe Warburton reported that he had represented the association at a “very positive” inaugural meeting, called by Roughyeds, in which the various rugby league groups in the borough were getting their heads together for the benefit of the sport as a whole in Oldham.
Among those present, he said, was the Chief Executive of Oldham Council, Harry Catherall.
The next meeting of the various groups was pencilled in for Tuesday, February 1 at the Oldham Event Centre, Boundary Park , 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
In an update from the Oldham RL Heritage Trust, it was reported that Gallery Oldham had refreshed its “Oldham Stories” exhibition which now includes a cabinet dedicated to Oldham Rugby, which is well worth a visit.
The Heritage Trust, the Players’ Assn and Rugby Oldham plan to stage a dinner at which they will offer past players their Heritage numbers and certificates.
Rugby Oldham, the Supporters’ Trust, said they would continue to work with the parent club in the promotion of rugby league in the borough.
Both Rugby Oldham and the Heritage Trust are each sponsoring a Roughyeds player in the coming season. RO will sponsor winger Tommy Brierley.
The Players Assn has taken out five shares in the Roughyeds’ Club Cash lottery, for which the association was thanked by John McAndrew, the Oldham RLFC lottery administrator.
Joe Warby will forward an application form to any association member who would like to support Roughyeds individually by joining Club Cash, which provides vital income for the club.
It costs only £1 a week per share and you can win as much as £1,000 per week on the regular prizes and up to a maximum of £10,000 on a £500-a-week rollover jackpot.
Keen fan Stephen Jackson was invited to attend the meeting at which he donated a variety of Oldham RL programmes. club year books, and other books on Oldham Rugby and Oldham generally.
Joe is starting a library in which association members can borrow the material, much of which refers to members in their playing days.
A big thank-you to Stephen for his donations.
