Rugby League and Networking

THIS week’s Network session at Oldham RLFC saw a classic case of networking at its best, involving the presence and power of rugby league.

Mike Ford, no introductions needed here, was guest speaker at the club’s monthly event for local and national business personnel – an event fronted by the man in charge, Kieran O’Reilly, who addressed captains of industry and local company chiefs over breakfast.

Various companies introduced themselves – and that’s where rugby league came into its own thanks to a big Oldham fan Andy Clare, and his networking connections with Sarah Tate of Lees.

The nephew of the late Colin Clare, secretary of Saddleworth Rangers for years back in the day, Andy came into contact with Sarah in his full-time role as a sailor in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Sarah raised more than £26,000 in 12 months, single-handedly, for good causes and has since set up a full-time business called Sarah’s Community Challenge which raises money for good causes, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.

“We support various organisations, including Dr Kershaw’s, the Armed Forces, the Veterans, anybody, In fact, who needs our help,” said Sarah (37).

It’s all about creating opportunity. We are here to help – a community project that believes passionately in nurturing hope.

Every single penny we raise goes into the community projects we support.”

Andy, who leaves Lees this week to join a ship in Cyprus (he will be away three months), attended the latest Oldham RLFC session and took Sarah with him. Without the intervention of this Oldham fan, Sarah might have missed the opportunity to ‘push’ her Community Challenge, to present her case, which she did with aplomb, and to meet representatives of the many local companies who attended the event.

You can contact Sarah on 0161 383 4657 or 07788255927 or via email to sarah.tate@sccp.org.uk

Her catchword is: TOGETHER . . . we can cross the line.

TOGETHER . . . now haven’t we heard that before somewhere?