Fogarty’s dream comes true

TOP PROSPECT. . . rising star Matthew Fogarty (right), who has signed a one-year deal with Oldham Roughyeds. Also pictured are Saddleworth Rangers chairman Terry Flanagan (left), Lance Bowker (Saddleworth Rangers under-18s coach) and Roughyeds reserve-team coach John Hough.

OLDHAM Rugby League Club have beaten off stiff competition to sign a teenager lauded as the best amateur in town at under-18s level.

Saddleworth Rangers’ centre Matthew Fogarty, who will be 19 in March, has turned down Super League outfit Huddersfield Giants in order to sign a one-year contract.

“He is an outstanding prospect,” said Roughyeds’ reserve-team boss John Hough, who has worked with Fogarty for the past few months in his capacity as Oldham under-18s town team (Service Area) coach.

He added: “I have high hopes of Matthew. If he puts his mind to it I think he will be pushing for first-team selection pretty quickly.

“He will start off in the reserves under me, but the pathway to the first team is in place, so the opportunities will be there for him to grasp.”

Fogarty has already had three years in the development scheme at Salford City Reds and, more recently, Huddersfield offered him a place in their reserves side when they discovered he was back at Saddleworth.

Fogarty went to Counthill School. He played at Rangers from the age of eight to 13 when he moved to Waterhead, from whom he signed for Salford. On leaving the Willows he returned to his roots at Saddleworth.

“I used to watch Oldham every week when I was a small boy,” said Fogarty, who lives in Lees. “Once I told my dad: ‘I’m going to play for them one day.’

“John (Hough) is a good coach and I’ve enjoyed playing for him in the Service Area side. I played stand-off for the town team, but centre is my main position. I’m sure that to stick with John and to sign for Oldham is the right thing for me right now.

“I have long-term dreams, like playing in a Grand Final at Old Trafford, but I know that if those things are ever going to happen they are a long way down the line.

“For now I’m just glad to fulfil my dream to play for Oldham.”