'Two Bobs' lands Roughyeds role

FAMILIAR FIGURE . . . Robert Roberts is Oldham's new community coach

FORMER Oldham RL star Robert Roberts, known all over rugby league land as 'Two Bobs', is the Roughyeds' new community coach, succeeding Danny Newall, who left to take up a new appointment with his home-town club, Widnes Vikings.

One of Robert's first initiatives will be to lead a rugby league-based Summer Camp for children at Whitebank Stadium, which starts today and which will run every Thursday, apart from August 11, up to and including September 1.

"It's great to be back at Oldham RLFC and very fulfilling to be able to put something back into the game I loved to play," said 'Two Bobs', the ex-Hull, Halifax and Huddersfield forward, who captained Oldham and scored 15 tries in 55 games for Roughyeds between 2007 and 2009.

Aged 38 now, he is closely monitoring the progress of his 17-year-old son Josh, who has just signed a new two-year contract at Leeds Rhinos and who, when his Rhinos commitments permit, will help out his dad in running the Summer Camp at Whitebank.

Staged as a joint venture with Regenda, the camp will cater for seven to 12-year-olds inclusive from 10am to noon and for over-12s to 16s inclusive from 1pm to 3pm.

Entry is FREE and 'Two Bobs' will make sure that everyone has lots of FUN.

He said: "The children have to enjoy it, that's what it's all about. It won't be anything too serious or too demanding. We'll have a lot of laughs and a lot of fun while perhaps learning something about the skills of rugby league along the way.

ENJOYING

"The stuff we do with the older group will be a tad more serious, but in the main it's all about children coming along and enjoying themselves in the fresh air.

"I've done this sort of thing before in other places and, certainly with the younger group, it's ideal for parents to drop off their children while they go shopping or something like that and know they will be safe and active."

Among other things on the 'Two Bobs' curriculum will be a variety of skill-based games, covering passing, kicking, communication; tag-rugby; kick tennis, rugby rounders; drills to improve hand-eye co-ordination; and light-hearted run-abouts such as touch-rugby with a soccer ball and soccer with a rugby ball.

Just turn up each Thursday at the appropriate time or ring the Oldham RLFC office on 07904898177 if you need more information.