Thewlis applauds Ford’s ‘made in Oldham’ stand

Oldham lad Josh Thewlis, the Warrington Wolves winger, has backed the Roughyeds' move to put the signing of local boys as top of their agenda.

Interviewed by Michael Bradshaw, a family friend, in Boundary Park's Broadway Suite pre-match on Sunday, Josh said signing for Oldham wasn't an option when he was a lad at Waterhead, but things were changing now and, with a bit of luck, there would come a time when local lads signed professionally for their home-town team.

Thewlis, who has played for England Knights and who has already featured at Wembley in a Challenge Cup Final, was primarily at Sunday's game to watch his younger brother Jake playing on the wing for North Wales on dual-reg, but it was a sign of the times that he was enthusiastic about accepting an invitation from Braddy to talk publicly to the Roughyeds' faithful.

These days all sorts of big-name personalities are turning up at BP to sample the matchday experience. Also there on Sunday were Dion Dublin, the former Manchester United and England star and his friend Jason Manford, the comedian and actor. They made the Golden Gamble draw.

Said club official John Chadwick:

"It took me back to the 1960s when we regularly attracted personalities. Les Dawson, for one, was often at Watersheddings. It was good to see Dion and Jason there on Sunday – perhaps another sign that things are moving in the right direction."

Image courtesy of SWPix