Paul puts pen to paper

PAUL O’CONNOR : New Roughyeds deal.

ROUGHYEDS have fended off rival suitors to land full-back or wing Paul O’Connor for another year.

The popular 25-year-old, one of the most consistent performers over the past two seasons, has signed a new one-year deal to become the 12th player from last season’s squad to commit to having another crack at promotion under coach Tony Benson.

“We had competition,” said Roughyeds chief Chris Hamilton. “But we are delighted to announce that Paul wanted to stay with us for what will be his fourth season at the club.

“It’s fair to say, I think, that a lot of supporters were not expecting us to re-sign so many of last season’s squad. A lot of hard work has been put in behind the scenes to make that happen, and the hard work is now bearing fruit.

“We have some more exciting signings lined up and we feel sure that supporters will already be looking forward to the start of the season.

“Needless to say, we hope fans will back the club and demonstrate their support for all we are striving to do by considering the purchase of season tickets, which are now available at reduced prices.”

O’Connor follows the example set by 2009 team mates Martin Roden, Matty Ashe, Craig Littler, Gary Sykes, Neil Roden, Paul Reilly, Marcus St Hilaire, Lucas Onyango, Craig Robinson, Wayne Kerr and Jason Boults.

Having first pulled on a Roughyeds shirt for a brief loan spell in the relegation season of 2006, O’Connor returned the following season though spent much of it away on a pre-booked tour of Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.

But he became a major player in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, playing 63 games, mainly at full-back, out of a possible 67.

In total he has made 80 appearances for the club, scoring 34 tries — 17 of them in the 2008 season, when he averaged a try every second game.

Season tickets are on sale until Christmas Eve at reduced prices of £100 (adults), £80 (OAPs and full-time students with valid ID) and £40 (under-16s).

The club is also holding a pre-Christmas sale of merchandise at the Roughyeds offices in Lansdowne Road, Chadderton, on Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.