League reveal reasons for Limehurst rejection

THE REASONS behind Oldham Limehurst’s rejected application to the Gillette National Youth League have been revealed by the competition’s management.

The idea was that the Limehurst outfit would compete in the inaugural summer competition which starts next March.

But the application was turned down — at least for now — on two grounds: the club’s lack of Clubmark accreditation, and the absence of a required link between the club and another Oldham-based club, as is the case with Keighley Cougars Cubs ARLFC and Keighley Cougars.

Oldham Roughyeds, who have been working on the application from the new Limehurst club they are helping to set up, say that they are now “in dialogue” with the league’s management in an attempt to resolve the outstanding issues.

The Oldham Amateur League made their opposition to the Limehurst entry known to the competition committee by way of a strongly-worded letter from secretary Phil Bradbury, who wrote: “In Oldham, as in other areas, there is a shortage of under-18s and we feel that forming any more teams could mean other sides folding.”

Saddleworth Rangers have a team in the National Youth League and Oldham St Anne’s and Waterhead also run under-18s sides, though Roughyeds officials insist that the Limehurst venture would have no impact on other local clubs.