1895 Cup Semi Final Preview: Oldham v Featherstone

Oldham host Featherstone Rovers in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup semi-final (Sunday 2pm) with a chance to reach Wembley for the first time in the club's 149-year history.

The Roughyeds have enjoyed a remarkable rise since competing in League 1 last season, but standing in their way is a seasoned Championship side who won the 1895 Cup in 2021 and reached the final again 12 months later.

Sean Long's men pipped Rovers in a Betfred Championship thriller last month, but who will come out on top at Boundary Park on Sunday?

Team News

In what Long has described as the "curse of the centres", Jumah Sambou was this week ruled out for the season with a serious hamstring injury.

Iain Thornley was ruled out for the season with a devastating ACL injury last week which has left Long light in the outside backs.

The good news this week is the return to the squad of captain Jordan Turner who has been struggling with a knee issue. Prop Owen Farnworth and hooker Bailey Aldridge also return to the squad, along with the versatile Logan Astley.

Neither wingers Mo Agoro, Jack Johnson or experienced forward Elijah Taylor are quite ready to return.

New signing Eloi Pelissier is again included after making his debut last weekend, while fellow French recruit - flying winger Mathieu Pons - also makes the squad.

Young Wigan winger Nathan Lowe is included, but there is no Jacob Douglas this week as he returns to the Warriors squad in Super League. Hooker Tom Forber remains with Oldham.

Winger Kieran Dixon and vice captain Matty Wildie remain out long-term, while Brad Gallagher, Ben O'Keefe and McKenzie Yei continue their drive back to full fitness.

Squad in full: 1. Logan Astley, 3. Jordan Turner, 6. Danny Craven, 7. Riley Dean, 8. Gil Dudson, 10. Owen Farnworth, 11. Matty Ashurst, 13. Adam Milner, 14. Bailey Aldridge, 16. Pat Moran, 19. Ted Chapelhow, 21. Lewis Baxter, 23. Josh Drinkwater, 27. Ben Forster, 30. George Hirst, 31. Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, 34. Tom Forber, 35. Nathan Lowe, 38. Ben Davies, 40. Eloi Pelissier, 00. Mathieu Pons

The Opposition

Featherstone may sit 9th in the Championship but they have been one of the most competitive teams in the division for years.

Having come so close to Super League in 2022 and 2023 - under Sean Long - Rovers have rebuilt and are showing signs that they are back on the right path under head coach Paul Cooke, a former England international and Challenge Cup winner with Hull FC.

The Championship game between the two teams four weeks ago at Boundary Park was a classic. Oldham ran out 30-28 winners, but Rovers missed two late kicks at goal after Thornley's match-winning try.

Since then Featherstone have had mixed fortunes, beating York and Widnes but losing to Toulouse. Rovers come into this game off the back of a confidence-boosting 38-16 win at the Vikings last Sunday, that saw the men from Post Office Road run in seven tries.

France international prop forward Gadwin Springer was sent off in the game at Boundary Park last month. He wasn't banned for the incident but did pick up a subsequent suspension, but that is now served and he will be back to face Oldham again on Sunday.

Match Experience

We are very proud of our Boundary Park matchday experience and there will be more going on than ever this Sunday on a huge day for the town and with more warm weather expected.

Local artist Soul31 will be performing before the game alongside local dancers, with a fantastic funfair set up outside Boundary Park.

We encourage fans to arrive early to take advantage of activities in Bar 1895 and around the stadium, with street food, drinks and live music from the Boundary Parkas before the match.

Please take your seats half an hour before kick-off with the pre-match performance set to take place shortly after 1:30pm.

We are now also delighted to host our Player of the Match in Bar 1895 straight after the game, so make sure you are there to meet Oldham's star player on the day after the hooter.

The entertainment in Bar 1895 kicks off with live music, before host George Riley takes over at 1pm with the all-important exclusive first read of the big-match team news, plus live interviews, photo opportunities and autographs with the Oldham stars not in the matchday 17.

Our legendary club mascot Roary the Roughyed will also be on hand to meet all our young - and old - Roughyeds fans.

It is the perfect place to meet your friends and family, have a drink before and after the game, listen to live music, watch live sport including Roughyeds footage on the big screens, and gain real insight from the players before and after the game.

Visiting fans are also warmly welcomed.

Tickets

Tickets for this Cup tie are a special price of just £15 but we are strongly encouraging fans to save £4 by purchasing their match tickets in advance.

Our ticket prices rise by £4 if you choose to purchase on the day. This is to help us manage numbers and ensure we have the correct areas open to maximise the fan experience on matchdays, and we appreciate your understanding on this.

Given the special ticket price for this semi-final there will be no further concessions.

We also have a special ticket offer for Oldham Athletic Season Ticket holders for this match so Latics fans can come and watch for just £5 - please bring your Season Ticket to show at the turnstile or in Bar 1895.

For Latics fans wanting to bring a mate who is not a Season Ticket Holder, they can come in with you too for just £10.

Featherstone Rovers supporters should book tickets in the Jimmy Frizzell Stand.

Our VIP access Pie & Peas tickets both in the Broadway Suite and Bar 1895 are completely sold out for this fixture.

Access:

Parking is available as normal but please be advised that the funfair will be set-up in the car park so you may want to arrive early to make sure you can park in good time.

For hospitality - including pie and peas - we request you arrive by 12pm if you are eating.

For Bar 1895 - please note that fans can enter the stadium via Bar 1895, but there is no re-entry to Bar 1895 before kick-off once you are inside the stadium - so relax and enjoy the Bar 1895 entertainment before taking your seats.
Once the match has kicked off, fans will be able to access Bar 1895 from the stadium.

Other refreshments are available via the kiosks on the concourse.

Merch:

We want you to look the part and are delighted to have taken a spot in Athletic Store at the ground this year.

So all of our Roughyeds merchandise, including our training gear, is now being stocked at Boundary Park, and fans can pop in to get kitted out on matchday.

Media coverage

Make sure you are following all of our social channels, on Facebook, X and Instagram, the only place to hear the first thoughts from head coach Sean Long before and after kick off this Saturday, see exclusive on-the-hooter interviews with our players at the end of the game, watch try clips during matches, cast your vote for Man of the Match and much more.

Start your build up to the game by watching the brand new episode of our exclusive magazine show The Boundary Line here as George is joined by head coach Sean Long, chairman Bill Quinn, Mike Turner and Kevin Fitzpatrick from the Oldham Heritage Trust and prop Gil Dudson shares some valuable insight in Mental Health Awareness Week.

Please subscribe, follow, like, comment, share and engage with our media content that we are so proud to have to rival any throughout rugby league - it all helps with our IMG score too.

For our loyal fans unable to get to the game there will be a live audio-only commentary service available via Roughyeds TV on You Tube from 2pm. But it is no substitute for being there!

We can't wait to have you with us at Boundary Park on Sunday as we host Featherstone .... Let’s hear the Roughyed Roar!