Chamberlain has a big role to play

Chris Chamberlain, new chief executive of the Oldham RLFC 1876 Foundation, has a massive part to play in the ongoing development of our famous club.

Chris is your archetypal adopted man of Oldham - and his CV proves without question that he is a confirmed and committed League man.

Originally from Wigan, he used to coach over there with the warriors, as did the late Haydn Walker, and if that alone doesn't prove his love for all things rugby league, he has since worked for St Helens and Bradford Bulls and he was once a Rugby League area development manager for the whole of Lancashire and East Manchester, which included the Oldham region.

We have shown, I submit, that Chris knows far more than the difference between a forward pass and a knock-on. He also has many links with this area, hence his "adopted Oldhamer" claim.

To start with, his wife is a native of Oldham; he has lived in Diggle – close to Mike Ford – for more than ten years and both his two children go to primary school in Saddleworth.

"It's a great town, a hotbed of talent with a rich history in Rugby League and I'm as proud as punch to be working for the Roughyeds," said Chris, who attended the monthly meeting of the Players' Association at Springhead Sports and Social Club the other night, together with Mike Ford.

Mike introduced his neighbour, explained what an important role he had to play in the development of Oldham RLFC (1876) Ltd, and talked with knowledge and infectious enthusiasm about where the club was going, and the key role Chris would play in its ongoing progress.

Chris, meanwhile, shook the hand of everyone there, introduced himself and told me afterwards more about the Foundation and his hopes and aspirations for that august body.

"Oldham Rugby and the Foundation are two separate organisations," he said, "but they work closely together and there are big links. We both want the club to be as successful as possible, but it must be remembered that the club and the Foundation are different bodies, though they will work very closely together."

The only man to serve on both bodies is Bill Quinn, chairman of Oldham RLFC (1876) Ltd, one of the Foundation directors and the man who will clearly be the go-between and, as such, will work very closely with Chris Chamberlain, as the Foundation's new chief executive officer.

The Foundation will comprise of SIX — Chris Chamberlain (CEO), John Townsend (chairman) and four Foundation directors, namely Adrian Alexander, Councillor Colin McLaren, Bill Quinn and Simon Winnard.

Former club prop Adrian Alexander, ex-Harlequins captain, England age-group star and Barbarians player (and an Oldham councillor for many years), Bill Quinn, and Simon Winnard need little or no introduction.

Suffice to say, Bill Quinn will have a major part to play as chairman of the parent club, Adrian Alexander, a Londoner who settled here, married here, served on Oldham Council for years and is an official club ambassador, and Simon Winnard, originally a leading figure in the birth of Rugby Oldham, the Supporters' Trust, and then a director of the current administration before stepping down to concentrate on other things, will all bring local rugby knowledge to the work of the Foundation.

Colin McLaren, a Geordie, a soccer fan and a great believer in sport as a passport to many things, represents North Chadderton as a Labour councillor, lives in the area, and will clearly be instrumental, with Alexander, in all Foundation matters relating to Oldham Council and possibly to Melrose where the development is nothing short of astounding.

Melrose alone is a massive feather in the cap of the current administration and with Chamberlain in charge of this group there is no telling what the Foundation can achieve,

Finally, a brief introduction for Foundation chairman John Townsend, who lives locally, loves Oldham Rugby, loves Manchester United, operates locally as a chartered accountant and knows what Foundations are all about as a member of Rio Ferdidand's Foundation.

Rio Ferdinand OBE will forever be remembered as a great footballer, a top England international, one of the best players ever to wear the white shirt of England and a man who received the OBE for his services to sport and to charity,

Said Chris:

"I'm on my eighth day at Oldham and the job is proving as good and as rewarding as I always thought it would.

I was doing a very similar job at Bradford, but the appeal of a move to Oldham, a real rugby league town with so much to do and with the potential to achieve it, was too good to turn down.

We've already had our first meeting. We will meet once a month, but the work will be going on every single day and I'll be proud to be involved."

Oldham RLFC (1876) Ltd will undoubtedly benefit from a strong and vibrant Foundation. Remember the names --Chamberlain, Quinn, Townsend, Alexander, McLaren, Winnard.

WHAT A LINE-UP! WHAT A TEAM!

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