Helping hands

Reporter: Kevin Richardson
Date published: 18 July 2014


HIGGINSHAW Amateur Rugby League Club are targeting a return to the summer game — but with a “stronger backbone” behind the scenes.

With that in mind, secretary John Mellor has launched an appeal for ex-players to get involved.

Higgy are holding a players’ reunion at the club on Saturday (from 3pm), which coincides with the 20th anniversary of their Standard Cup victory against Waterhead in front of over 3,000 spectators at Watersheddings.

The more who attend the better for Mellor, who wants to take a leaf out of their local rivals’ book.

He said: “Some weeks ago a few of us went to a wedding of one of our ex-players.

“I said to him ‘what are we doing wrong at Higginshaw’? I watch Oldham St Anne’s and Saddleworth Rangers, and they have former players on the touchline. They get involved in the club in some shape or form.

“We’ve got a chairman, Alf Howarth who has been involved since he was a lad, and his father well before that.

“There are many others as well here at Higgy, but we can’t do everything, so we need people to lend a hand.

“The idea is bring back people and get them involved.

“We need people who can move the club forward, so we can step back into summer rugby, but with a stronger backbone.”

Higgy are certainly getting the ball rolling on and off the field.

While the club have spent a £40,000 grant from Sport England to refurbish the changing rooms with new showers, lighting and heating — — “I’ve been there 30 years and I never known heating in the dressing rooms before,” said Mellor — the next generation of players are being put through their paces.

For Mellor (58), Higgy has become a way of life.

He received the Unsung Hero-Special Recognition gong at the 2014 Oldham Sports Award for his unstinting services to the club.

“I first used to watch them and I gradually got involved,” said Mellor.

“I then started training with them to get fit and it wasn’t until I was 27 that played my first game.

“I’m still here and I just love the involvement of it all.”
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