Hard work begins for Roughyeds

ALL SMILES: Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes (left), Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton and coach Tony Benson (centre) at the Whitebank Stadium.

OLDHAM Roughyeds hope to use an improved Whitebank Stadium for the first time for the visit of York City Knights on Sunday, May 9.

Speaking at a press conference held to announce details of the club’s new permanent Limeside home — ending a nomadic 13-year existence in which the Roughyeds have used eight different temporary grounds — a delighted chairman Chris Hamilton warned that there was plenty of hard graft in store to get the venue matched up to the minimum standards set by the RFL.

“We appreciate there is an awful lot of work to be done,” said Hamilton, after the Council Cabinet earlier this week agreed to an arrangement concluding the club’s search for a new base.

“When we first identified this may be a site for us, the RFL were involved from day one.

“They had a look at it and made sure that, given the right to-do list, they were comfortable with us playing matches here.

“We are looking at May 9 as being the earliest date we can play here.

“Now we have made the announcement, we are looking to move things on apace so that we are in here as quickly as possible.”

As yet there is no official ground capacity and the club is working on installing extra seating in time for the York game.

A development plan has been put together and will be put into action over the next five years as the club works with architects Nicol Thomas to gradually improve the ground.

Extra changing rooms need to be built and a new overspill car park will be created in addition to upgrading spectator facilities around the pitch, and Roughyeds officials are hopeful that the exciting developments will ultimately see fans flood back.

Oldham Boro, formerly Oldham Town Football Club, have been kept fully informed of the ongoing negotiations. The club has been given the option to carry on playing at the venue for the next two to three seasons while they find a more manageable home ground.

The exact financial arrangements behind the plan, which involves Oldham Council and two landowners as well as Oldham RLFC (1997) Ltd, are not being released until a final agreement has been signed by all parties.

A meeting with Limeside residents was held at the club last night and Roughyeds officials stressed they are keen to involve the local community as much as possible at the club.

Prior to the York match, Oldham have two Co-operative Championship One ‘home’ games.

The first, on Easter Monday against Workington Town, is being played at Sedgley Park RUFC while there is no confirmed venue as yet for the second on Sunday, April 25, against Gateshead.