Roughyeds set to enter Lions’ den

OLDHAM will take on Swinton early next year in a joint testimonial game for John Hough and Wayne English.

The pre-season fixture will take place on Sunday, January 11, at Sedgley Park with a 3pm kick-off and the gate profits will be split between the pair.

At the moment, the game represents Oldham coach Tony Benson’s first look at his new squad in action though that could change if plans to nail down other friendlies, one of which is due to be against Leeds Rhinos, bear fruit.

“At the moment we are just waiting for people to get back to us,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

Hough, now 32, was the first man ever to sign on for the new Oldham club when he put pen to paper in December, 1997, and he has been with the Roughyeds ever since.

A hooker, he arrived at the club as a teenager from Warrington and played 238 times in the first team prior to his retirement at the end of the 2007 campaign.

Last season, Hough took charge of the club’s reserves side along with Leo Casey and that arrangement is expected to continue in 2009.

English, a 28-year-old full-back who has been a consistent performer for Swinton since he first joined the club, also in 1997, remains very much in the first-team picture for the Lions.

The joint testimonial should provide a few clues about Oldham’s new boys and also the relative strength of the Lions’ squad, as coach Paul Kidd bids to improve on last season’s disappointing finish outside the play-offs.

With experienced signings like Ireland international stand-off Graham Holroyd on board, Swinton will be aiming for a far better season in the Co-operative Championship 1.