MARTYN Ridyard, our captain, ace goalkicker, stand-off and chief decision-maker, was the first winner of the newly-initiated Brian Walker Award, which is sponsored by Rugby Oldham and is to go each month to the coaches’ choice of the player who has contributed most, both in matches and on the training field, during the preceding period under review.
Martyn was presented with his award before our home game against Hunslet and then went on to land eight goals from eight attempts in our 40-20 win to follow up the 22 points he scored from two tries and seven goals in a 50-16 win at Midlands Hurricanes down in Birmingham.
Brian Walker was a very committed lifelong fan, who died in late 2021. He was involved in the planning which resulted in the re-founding of the club in 1997 and also in the founding of Rugby Oldham, the Supporters’ Trust, in 2005.
The presentation, last Saturday, was made by Brian’s long-standing colleague John Chadwick, a former club chairman and now vice-president, in the presence of Brian’s son Adrian, his grandson Oscar and Rugby Oldham chairman Mike Kivlin.
Adrian’s wife Charlotte, or Charlie as she is popularly known, was also present at the game to see her father-in-law, Brian, so deservedly honoured in this way.
Said Adrian:
“Oldham RLFC was a very large part of my Dad’s life. He would have felt very proud and humbled by this.” Charlie added: “The club meant the world to him. This is fantastic.”
Each month’s winner will receive a memento in the form of a decanter, while Adrian and the Walker family, the club and Rugby Oldham will collectively put up £250 between them each month which will go to the Brian Walker Award winner to choose the recipient — either the amateur club of his choice or the charity of his choice. Riddy’s £250 will go to the charity ‘Two Hips, One knee!’
The annual overall winner will receive the Brian Walker Trophy.
