Links with Latics get stronger – and stronger

BY ACCIDENT or design I know not, but our links with Oldham Athletic appear to be getting stronger day by day. Frank Rothwell, the Latics owner, is now a committed Roughyeds fan, in attendance at most home games and sufficiently enthusiastic as to be genuinely excited when Oldham score or do something of particular promise and  panache.

What really gave out partnership signals, however, was the rugby club’s active participation in the Latics’ business breakfast with which they lunched their new season. It was on July 18 and Athletic went to great lengths to include the town’s rugby league club. In what was clearly a blue-and-white event, prepared and programmed by them. The Roughyeds logo, in red, was on the front page of the programme and the event was billed as ‘Oldham Athletic AFC and Oldham Rugby League FC.’

The programme blurb told us: “Everyone from Oldham Athletic AFC and Oldham Rugby League FC would like to welcome you to our combined season launch business breakfast,

“Throughout the morning, there will be several keynote speeches delivered by members from the Oldham Athletic Board and staff, Oldham Rugby League FC and our special guests.

“This morning is a great chance to network and connect with other local businesses and support both clubs. Complimentary refreshments and breakfast sandwiches will be available throughout the event,”

First up on the agenda was a “special announcement between Oldham Athletic and Oldham RLFC”, this to take the form of an interview with Bill Quinn and Darren Royle. That was all about the ten-year agreement for our use of Boundary Park and its facilities long-term – not the first time we had been told that, but now confirming it and making it official.

At the bottom of the page those attending were invited to inquire about commercial opportunities for the football club and the rugby league club, whose relevant contact details were given in blue for Athletic and in red for us or, more precisely, for Kieran O’Reilly, that’s the young bloke with the big smile who is always in a hurry and who seems to know everybody.

“This club is going places,” said Kieran in the Broadway Suite after the Keighley game, when drawing the fans’ attention to the fact that club captain Jordan Turner took all his team mates across to a packed Joe Royle stand to applaud their supporters.

Whether its Bill Quinn, Mike Ford, Sean Long, John Chadwick, Michael Bradshaw, the players or even young Kieran, these Roughyeds never miss an opportunity to “big up” the club and all it stands for.

It’s called PR – and its worth its weight in gold!