Local boy bolsters Oldham pack

The Roughyeds have made their second big signing of the week with the arrival of Oldham-born forward Ben Forster from Rochdale on a one-year deal.

The 23-year-old bolsters the League One champions' pack and the move to his hometown club comes hot on the heels of the signing of Lewis Baxter from Leigh Leopards.

Forster came through the ranks at Saddleworth Rangers and caught Oldham boss Sean Long's eye with a series of impressive performance against Oldham in 2024. And speaking to Roughyeds TV as he joined his new team-mates for pre-season training this week, Forster believes the move is a perfect opportunity to showcase his talents.

"This is a massively proud moment for me and my family and looking at how Oldham went last year it was one of the best teams for the past few years in League One.

They are only going to get better with the signings that have been made and can be fighting up there at the top of the Championship. Once I knew Oldham were interested it didn't take much convincing to get signed.

I did well for Rochdale last year but to be playing in the Championship for a team like this I am going to have to work hard to get in. I know I have to hit the board running and feel like it is now or never for me to jump into the elite environment. The way this club is going I feel that is the way Oldham want to be too. Sean and Mike (Ford) have made it very clear where this club wants to go and that is only going to help me learn and grow as a player."

Forster has promised Oldham fans that he will bring physicality to a Roughyeds pack that produced the club's best defensive performance over a season since 1911, keeping the opposition to nil an incredible seven times.

"I play tough, with strong carries, strong defence and really competitive," he added.

I hate losing and hope I can bring some aggression to the team. I will bring a lot of passion and you will definitely see in my performances how proud I am to be playing for Oldham."

Head coach Sean Long believes that Forster, who also works locally as a teaching assistant in Fitton Hill, has all the ingredients to be a success.

"We have been keeping tabs on Ben and we always look at lads who have impressed us when we play against teams," said Long.

"He has impressed us for Rochdale, he will bolster our back row and is a really good signing for us. His super strength is his strength of carry. That caused our lads a bit of damage, and he can whack as well - he is a big lad but is a baby as well at 23.

He's an Oldham lad too, he has watched Oldham all his life and tells me his dad was a fan at the 'Sheddings."

Oldham can also confirm that chairman Bill Quinn and managing director Mike Ford will both be appearing on a special episode of our popular YouTube show The Boundary Line next week in which they will discuss the club's IMG Grading, plans for Melrose as well as giving a recruitment update.

Ben Forster is available to sponsor for the 2025 season, click the below link for more details.