Roughyeds coach in appeal to fans

OLDHAM Rugby League Club are battling against the clock in order to get the Whitebank Stadium ready for when York City Knights come to town on Sunday, May 9.
Anxious officials have again appealed to fans for help and coach Tony Benson has warned that if essential work is not completed in time it will be a “devastating” financial blow.

Four out-of-town home games this season, all at Sedgley Park, Whitefield, have produced fewer than 2,000 fans in total and an average per match of 498. Three of them were on Mondays and the one Sunday game was against Welsh amateurs Blackwood Bulldogs in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The club made nothing out of the Challenge Cup — beaten at Hunslet last Sunday and watched by a crowd of 509 — and it is banking on much bigger turnouts when it can stage home games at their new ground .

Of the 10 home league games, the first against Workington was played at Sedgley Park on Easter Monday and the second against Gateshead Thunder will be staged at the same venue on Saturday evening.

That leaves eight to be staged at the Whitebank Stadium, hopefully starting with the visit of York.

Said Benson: “It is essential we are in our new home for that match but unless we get more helpers quickly there is a danger it won’t happen and that would be a serious blow to the club.

“We are relying on fans but so far it has been the same few every time and we need more help.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm among supporters. Hundreds of them can’t wait to see the team run out at Whitebank, but it needs to be reflected in the numbers who are prepared to roll up their sleeves.”

Benson coached the team on Saturday and then dashed straight to Warrington’s old ground at Wilderspool where he and scrum-half Matty Ashe helped to load 350 seats on to a lorry for delivery to Whitebank.

Work at the ground is done seven days a week and most evenings, but fans wanting to help are advised to ring the club first on 0161 628 3677.