All the indications are that, by modern standards, there will be a big crowd at Sunday’s long-awaited Law Cup game at Rochdale’s Crown Oil Arena, kick-off 3pm.
To clear up one or two imponderables, and to answer questions that fans have asked the Oldham club, Mike Ford has confirmed that (a) the match IS a split gate; (b) fans CAN pay the £10 admission money on the day (see below for more info about this); and (c) Hornets will only open another part of the ground if the main stand is full.
Answers to (b) and (c) need to be explained more fully so here goes: Fans paying on the day will NOT pay at the turnstiles, but are asked to go to reception where they can pay by cash or card. Hornets hope as many Oldham fans as possible make the short trip to Rochdale, obviously, but they will only open another part of the ground If the demand for tickets looks like meriting it, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
The official attendance when Roughyeds won 46-10 at Keighley on Boxing Day was a lower-than-expected 634, but Hornets say they have already sold more than 1,000 tickets , including under-16s who go free, and with five days to go before game day they expect that figure to go up significantly.
As far as Oldham fans go. It has been suggested to me that many of them had already made their family-priority Boxing Day arrangements before it was announced that Roughyeds would be playing over the festive holiday for the first time in many years and that there are no such alternatives this Sunday.
What’s more, although Rochdale football are at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday, the weather is forecast to take a big turn for the better next weekend — milder and with relatively good temperatures for this time of year on Friday night and Saturday night.
Oldham fans are expected to turn out in force, too, given that Rochdale is not much more than a hop, skip and a jump away; that it’s only a tenner to get in for adults and FREE for under-16s; that Hornets have no fewer than eight former Oldham players on their books, most of whom played with us last season; that for most fans they will be watching the ‘new’ Oldham team for the first time; that Jordan Turner, Joe Wardle, Elijah Taylor etc etc played so well at Cougar Park; that silverware is up for grabs and Sean Long loves his side to lift cups, as he did so often as a player.
To think of the players already mentioned, plus the likes of Craig Kopczak, Owen Farnworth, Danny Craven, Matty Wildie, Logan Astley, Ben O’Keefe and other new boys going head to head with Martyn Ridyard, Gregg McNally, Joe Hartley, Deane Meadows, Matty Wilkinson, Jordan Andrade, Luke Nelmes and Tommy Brierley is mouth-watering.
This will be no friendly that’s for sure — probably a feisty affair and the first of four clashes at least between the derby rivals in 2024. Bring it on!
