HE may be described as Rochdale’s Platinum Champion, but with a name like Brad GARTLAND he will forever be regarded as a member of Oldham’s well-known rugby league family of the same name.
Brad, grandson of Maureen and the late Brian Gartland and son of the late Stephen, launched his own Rochdale branch of the Andy’s Man Club mental health group and has since been selected as a nation-wide Platinum Champion, one of 490 volunteers across the country.
We are indebted to Style, the Rochdale-area magazine for which Brad is Mental Health Editor, for exclusively breaking the news of Brad’s selection in its Summer 2022 issue. He is featured on the front cover and is given a double-page spread inside.
Brad’s late Dad, Steve, played professionally for Oldham, Rochdale and Swinton and his grandad, Brian, was a former Oldham coach, who will forever be remembered for the major role he played in the recruitment and development of players like Terry Flanagan, Ray Ashton, Mick Worrall, Des Foy, Paddy Kirwan, Andy Goodway and many others.
Stephen’s elder brother Shaun was heavily involved in Oldham amateur rugby league and also coached Rochdale Hornets for a spell, following in the footsteps of Darren Abram.
Style penned these words of Brad’s achievement:
“In 2016, Brad lost his dad to suicide and in 2020 he set up the first Andy’s Man Club in Rochdale, devoting his time to the male mental health group. He also founded the Stephen Gartland Foundation in memory of his Dad.
“Brad impressed the judges with his resilience in the face of such personal tragedy and he was selected as a Platinum Champion from more than 300 people who were nominated in the North-West area for their dedication to volunteering.
“The Platinum Champions awards were initiated by the national charity, the Royal Voluntary Service, and its President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.”
Said Brad:
“My motivation is always my Dad and will always be my Dad. I do this for him and everyone else who feels low, hopeless, and feels like they can’t go on. I just want to make positive change and leave the world better than I found it.”
Well done Brad ! Keep up the good work !
