Matchday Update from CEO David Bottomley

A very good afternoon to all Roughyeds.

With great excitement building towards our Betfred Championship fixture vs Doncaster tonight at Boundary Park, 7:45pm KO, the team will be looking to build on its seven consecutive league wins.

On the note of supporters and teams, a huge thank you to all who travelled to Barrow last Sunday. The atmosphere you created and the support you gave the team were fantastic, and the players responded with a performance that made you proud to be involved with ORLFC and will linger long in the memory of those of us who were there, with team and supporters coming together as one.

I had intended to provide updates on a number of things today, but as you all know, it has been another whirlwind week, with the late announcement on Wednesday of this evening’s fixture being moved to Boundary Park. The details behind tonight are more important today than other matters.

Before confirming all of those details, can I say, on behalf of all at ORLFC, a big thank you to OMBC for generously sponsoring the match, and to Craig Dootson and his team at OAFC for providing great professional help at the last minute for both clubs.

Please, again, I would urge as many of you as possible to buy tickets online in advance.

However, THERE WILL be three turnstiles in operation, and none of these will accept cash payment.

Turnstile 30 – Card payment only
Turnstile 31 – Card payment and advance ticket/season ticket scanner
Turnstile 34 – Card payment and advance ticket/season ticket scanner

There will be a cash payment desk in the 1895 Bar for tickets, but there will be no cash accepted at the turnstiles.

Hospitality is in either the boxes or the Broadway Suite. We have good numbers tonight and again encourage you to arrive early, as we are working with OAFC staff ourselves on reception. All bars will open from 5:30pm.

Car parking for around 170 cars is available tonight, but again we advise that, due to a four-way light system on Broadway around Elk Mill, there could be congestion.

The 1895 Bar is open, and we are sharing it with a darts event. Again, thanks to OAFC for making it possible for you, our supporters, to gain access.

I did promise last week that a number of initiatives would be going on sale. Due to other matters this week, these have been slightly delayed, but the Golf Day and 150th Anniversary tickets will go online today ahead of the weekend.

We will communicate other events and opportunities to help the club next week. We are indebted again to many sponsors, and particularly to the GoFundMe page set up by Andrew Barratt, for the support this week.

We have a long way to go as a club to fill the financial vacuum we have following the previous generosity and investment by Bill Quinn, but we are making headway and working very hard to ensure sustainability. The support of all of you is appreciated so that we can continue to run this club as a proud member of the Rugby Football League in its 150th year.

We are aware that, for many, it will be the first game of what has already been an exciting season, so make some noise, back the boys, and cheer the team on to an eighth consecutive league victory.

Enjoy tonight.