Familiar faces out in force for Roden

STARS from Oldham RL Club’s past will kick-start the 2015 season at Whitebank when the curtain goes up on February 22.

Seven days before Kingstone Press Championship new boys Coventry Bears come to town in the first round of the League One Cup on March 1, Neil Roden’s Legends will go head-to-head (from 1pm) with an Oldham Select side in the last and potentially biggest event in his testimonial programme.

Among those supporting their former team-mate will be Marcus St Hilaire, Paul Reilly, Jason Clegg, Leo Casey, Sean Robinson, Lucas Onyango, Matty Brookes, Martin Roden, Ian Hodson, David and Anthony Gibbons, Keith Brennan, Ian Sinfield and Andy Isherwood.

Former Oldham Bears captain and Widnes and Blackpool boss Martin Crompton will coach the Legends and, after the game, hold a question-and-answer session with fans in the Whitebank social club.

“It should be a great event,” said Roden, who holds two Roughyeds records for most games played (296) and most tries scored (113). It will be a taster for the Whitebank season starting a week later.”