Dinner is a success

OFFICIALS of the recently-formed Oldham Rugby League Club Players' Association hailed the association's inaugural sportsmen's dinner a resounding success.

More than 120 former players and guests assembled at the Oldham St Anne's amateur club. Alex Murphy was guest speaker and the evening was run by MC Malcolm Lord.

Among the many ex-Oldham players from different eras were four former club captains in Terry Flanagan, Neil Flanagan, Mike Ford and Martin Murphy, the club's post-war appearances record holder.

His wing colleague over a full decade, Welshman Mike Elliott, was also present, but Elliott's centre partner over that same decade, Phil Larder, sent his apologies.

John Donovan and Trevor Simms flew the flag for the 1964 side that took Hull KR to three games in an epic Challenge Cup semi-final, while among other ex-players who had travelled from out of town were Colin Smith (from Torquay), Dave Nicholson (Isle of Man), Hussein M'Barki (Essex), Colin Hawkyard (Huddersfield), Jim McCormack (Wigan), Paul Round (Glossop) and Brian Lord (Ramsbottom).

Shane Tupaea, first-team player and also player-coach of a highly-successful Oldham 'A' team in Watersheddings days, was also present, as was an assistant coach and player in more recent times, scrum-half or hooker Keith Brennan.

Chief organiser was Bernard Halford, Manchester City's long serving secretary who, in his youth, played for the Roughyeds at 'A' team level.

The Oldham Ex-Players next meet at Saddleworth Rangers on Tuesday, November 4 (7.30pm).




Rugby fun for young

ROUGHYEDS skipper Rob Roberts is running a "rugby fun and fitness" programme for children at the Honeywell Centre, Ashton Road, Oldham during the half-term school holidays.

Boys and girls aged eight to 16 are welcome to attend the sessions — admission is free — which will start on Monday, October 27 and run each morning all that week up to and including Friday, October 31. The sessions will start at 10am and finish at noon.

"We'll have a bit of fun on a rugby theme and I'm sure the children will enjoy it. The more the merrier," said Roberts.

On the Friday there will be a guest appearance by the Oldham club's popular mascot, Roary the Roughyed.

Parents or older children are asked to ring the Honeywell Centre on 0161 785 3778 for details or to get their names down for the Roughyeds initiative.