All going great as 2025 draws closer

BILL Quinn, Mike Ford, Sean Long and Co have surely surpassed all expectations in their hugely ambitious "Stronger Together" campaign, and their bold bid to take our proud club back into the big time.

ON the field and OFF it, the men dubbed the club's "big three" have exceeded what they promised originally and although IMG will have the last word on where it all ends, all the club's signposts point to 'Super League' eventually, always providing, of course, that the current management do not take too literally their oft-quoted reminder that they are merely "custodians of the key."

Judging by their marvellous record in the past 20 months or so, Bill, Mike and Sean have done a terrific job, as proven by the fact that the club is no longer regarded by the general public as a spent force but one that's on its way back to former glories.

The signing of Josh Drinkwater was the icing on the Roughyeds' comeback cake. You can advance a very good argument that the Aussie is the biggest name to have joined us since the club changed hands --- and there have been a few big names in recent times to add to those who came earlier and who walked away with the League One title last season. Answering honestly, did anyone ever imagine that Oldham would sign a player with the reputation, the ability, and the charisma of Drinkwater ? If the arrival of Sean Long as head coach caused a few raised eyebrows to be raised, the signing of Drinkwater as a team organiser must have caused a few brains to be rattled.

That's just ON the field.

OFF it, activity has been hectic too and the recruitment of Chris Chamberlain as chief executive of our Foundation, to start work here in the New Year, proves beyond doubt that the men in charge are delivering and that they fully understand there is far more to this "taking the club forward" lark than meets the eye; that Melrose, the Pathway programme, local talent, the development locally of rugby league for girls and women; and what goes on behind the closed curtains of houses in the community, in rugby league terms, of course, are all topics of importance to be addressed.

I will have more to say about our Foundation (the people involved, its role in the overall scheme of things etc, etc) once Chris Chamberlain takes over soon. For now, suffice to say the Foundation will deal with projects that are not necessarily linked with first-team rugby, but hugely relevant all the same.

Most aspects of club life are clearly defined and concern matters that are related to either ON or OFF field activities, but some have a foot in both camps. I refer to our backroom department, otherwise known as our medical team which, as a general rule, works off the field though most of its work is directly linked to players, individual and collective, performances and results.

Oldham have reshaped this vital group, too by bringing in experienced physiotherapist Aaron Scholes to double-up as departmental head while working closely with another physio, Catherine Corless, who was with us last season, our new club doctor and with our new Head of Performance Andrew Dixon, who is heavily qualified academically and doubles up as strength and conditioning coach.

With Aaron as the man in charge of a medical group which also includes our new doc, physio Catherine and Andrew Dixon, Oldham have a medical team to match the best and one that will ensure that some of the best players in the sport get the best possible care and preparation -- at least as good as what they would expect in Super League.

Championship fixtures are out, the draw for the Challenge Cup pairs us at home in round two to either Mayfield or Telford Raiders, and our derby rivals Rochdale Hornets will be at Boundary Park as early as Sunday, January 12 in the Law Cup. There's mighty Wigan to come too in another pre-season humdinger, all part of the George Hirst deal, and if that's on Sunday, January 19 and the second-round Betfred Challenge Cup tie is on the 26th, we will have a lot of exciting rugby watch as early ad next month.

The close season, which we thought would be a long, drawn out affair because we were not involved in play-off games at the end of last season, seems to have flown by with the result that next month, if the Mayfield-Telford tie goes as expected , we could be playing Rochdale opposition at Boundary Park twice in a fortnight before the end of January. What an entree that would be for what promises to be a sensational Championship season!

It's all going swimmingly at this great club of ours. Long may it continue — and please ignore the pun!