We have learned, thanks to the well-known reporter Ken Bennett, that the two town-centre pubs which are to play a big part in the development and progression of our new Supporters Group, YEDS, have both won awards.
They are the Fox and Pine on Greaves Street and its sister pub, The Cob and Coal, up near the site of Tommyfield Market.
The Fox and Pine, run by Chris Riley, is CAMRA’s Pub of the Year for the area covered by the three towns of Oldham, Rochdale and Bury, an honour it has achieved by taking over from The Cob and Coal.
The Cob and Coal is run by Chris’s wife, Michelle, and is the current Greater Manchester Pub of the Year.
Said Chris:
“To win last year with The Cob and Coal and then to do it again with The Fox and Pine is fantastic for the town.”
His wife Michelle said:
“Thanks for all this go to our fabulous staff, who believed in Oldham and supported us.”
YEDS, who are running coaches to most away games in the forthcoming Betfred League One season, have targeted The Fox and Pine as a town-centre base for supporters and, on their away-day trips, will leave from there and return there.
Last Sunday, trip one, the Fox and Pine opened in time to welcome Roughyeds fans, to lay on some food and to welcome the lads and lassies in red and white replica shirts and scarves.
Said Jamie Hollingsworth of YEDS:
“Congratulations to Chris and Michelle from all at YEDS and all at Roughyeds. We plan to make The Fox and Pine our away-day base, but it will be good also to have a town-centre pub where we can sometimes get together,
“The Cob and Coal also comes into it though because Michelle has said she will be more than happy to take bookings for us, sell tickets and things like that.
“As for our first trip to an away game, it was good to get the first one done on a day when we won well at Keighley. We hope everyone enjoyed it.
“Lots of work goes on behind the scenes and I’m glad we all had a good day. The win made it even better.
“Onwards and upwards, bigger and better ! Let’s go. Up the Yeds.”
Harry Aaronson, the winger who scored four tries for us in 11 appearances during the 2019 promotion season, has signed for new club Cornwall.
