Oldham kids playing Wigan at Mayfield

OLDHAM'S Pathway Programme has a major event to look forward to this evening (Wed, October 2) when they host Wigan LDP (Lions Development Pathway) at the Castleton home of community club Rochdale Mayfield, kick-off 6,30pm.

Oldham hope to have up to 60 boys, a mixture of under-14s and under-15s, on view at Mayfield tonight in Oldham RLFC colours.as Wigan Pathway come to our area

The Oldham club fully supports the RFL's Pathway Programme with managing director Mike Ford, who represented Oldham at Wembley as an 11-year-old, actively leading the club's determined bid to get Oldham youngsters, boys AND girls, interested again in rugby league and, in particular, in Oldham RLFC, in all it stands for, and in its rich history which goes all the way back to 1876 as a club and to 1895 as a founder member of the RFL.

Joe Warburton, another Oldham lad who played for Oldham schoolboys back in the day and went on to start his pro career at Watersheddings, is the man charged with bridging the gap between the RFL's Pathway Programme and the town's senior club.

Says Joe, also a leading figure in the club's avowed intent to have a women's team soon:

"We actively encourage public support for EVERY boy who turns out, be he from Oldham or from the opposition. They are only young lads after all and they are all doing their best.

Everyone is welcome to come along tonight (Wed) and support the lads from both Oldham and Wigan."

Modified rules will apply. Teams will NOT be selected on ability. Coaches will mix the ages and focus on positions, rather than the score. The score isn't even kept. There is no goalkicking and when a try is scored the conceding team restarts with a tap on the half-way line.

Referees will have the discretion to reward good play and everyone needs to understand that these sessions are all about development and to allow the youngsters to play what's in front of them and what they see without the scoreboard being a factor.

Our Pathway teams were at Blackbrook ARLFC in St Helens last week. We took more than 30 players to St Helens, again a mix of 14s and 15s. Most of the lads who attended, enjoyed the experience Some of them didn't, as they played out of there usual positions and didn't get enough game time.

Added Joe: "This was our first experience of this sort of thing and we will certainly learn from it and hopefully rectify the issues raised."

Below is a message we got from St Helens Pathway leads Graham Roberts and Craig Richards after the session. It read like this:

"We really enjoyed the event last night -- four very even, tough, competitive matches played in the right spirit. This is definitely one for the calendar. We can’t promise no rain, but if we schedule again for next Spring or next Summer that would be great..

The athleticism across the board from your Oldham lads was really eye-catching and there are young players there who will flourish and kick-on under this type of programme.

Please pass on our thanks to all your coaches and parents. We will be in touch to plan ahead for 2025. This was another example of how the LDP is really gathering momentum along the right path; ie player development, increased participation and retention.

More of the same and we can really start to champion this as another platform for youth rugby league."

That was no less than St Helens talking when all is said and done!

WELL DONE OLDHAM., WELL DONE MIKE FORD, JOE WARBURTON AND ALL THE COACHES AND BOYS – WE ARE DEFO ON THE RIGHT LINES.