Group’s appeal to fans

ORSA fund to bring in fresh blood
OLDHAM RL fans are being asked to put their hands in their pockets to actively support the club’s push for promotion in 2012.

The plea comes from lifelong fan Nigel Marland, chairman of the Oldham Roughyeds’ Supporters’ Association (ORSA), who is proposing a fund to be used exclusively for bringing new players to Whitebank.

His plan to establish the Roughyeds’ Squad Strengthener will be formally submitted to ORSA’s committee for approval if sufficient interest is generated in the early stages.

The association, he says, would create a special bank account and would administer it independently.

He has circulated ORSA members with his proposals, but he hopes to arouse interest among other supporters, the town’s wider rugby league community and the borough’s commercial and business sector.

He said: “Promotion to the Championship in 2012 is vital before the reorganisation of Championship One. With four promotion places available there will never be a better time to get out of this division.

“ORSA has done well in raising money for the club since it was formed just over 12 months ago, but we need to step up the tempo now to help the parent club with team building in a vital year.

“Donations would hopefully come from individual fans, associations, businesses and companies and I would suggest a minimum donation of £5 a month (no upper limit, obviously) by direct debit for at least 12 months. Anyone donating would automatically become a member of ORSA with full voting rights.”

More information from him by email - marlandnigel@hotmail.co.uk, (phone 07884261745 or 624 4087) or by writing to him at 115, Stoneleigh Street, Oldham, OL1 4LF.

Oldham RLFC chairman Chris Hamilton said: “This could be vital to what happens on the field next season. Similar schemes have been tried and tested at other clubs with varying degrees of success.

“We are not the wealthiest club in the game and support from wherever it comes is very much appreciated. This gives people the opportunity to have an input on the playing side of the club and in the main that's what fans are interested in."



OLDHAM Roughyeds’ Supporters' Association (ORSA) plans to go “on the road” in 2012 to increase membership.

The group will hold meetings and fund-raising events at venues throughout the town, rather than stage all their activities at the club’s Whitebank ground.

“The season ahead will be a very important one for Oldham RLFC,” said secretary Paul Whalley. “To give maximum support we need more members, and feel we’ll get that if we go out into the rugby community across the borough. I’m talking to local amateur clubs about fund-raising ideas as joint ventures, following the successful race night we held last season in partnership with Higginshaw ARLFC.”