Meet the captains
Date published: 07 April 2010
Bob’s debt to United hero
BOB Oag has Munich air disaster survivor Jackie Blanchflower to thank for his introduction to STAMFORD Golf Club.
The new captain’s daughter, Debbie, married the late Jackie’s son Andrew and it was Manchester United hero Jackie who suggested Bob have a round of golf with him at the Stalybridge course.
“I’d always wanted to have a game there, but by the time I had gone round with Jackie he had a few more grey hairs,” quipped Bob, who joined Stamford soon after that initial experience in 1992, having spent much of his previous leisure time running local boxing clubs.
Eighteen years on, Bob is looking forward to the captaincy, as too, is wife Christina, who is heading the women’s section.
“She got fed up with me going out all the time and leaving her at home and asked if women played at the course.
“When I said yes, she said ‘well I’m going to join’.”
Greens chairman and junior section organiser in two separate four-year stints, 69-year-old Bob has been a valuable member at Stamford as well as a successful competitor.
“I have won quite a few competitions, but the most important is the Hyde Trophy in 1998. That is one of the majors and is decided by the best five rounds from eight medals,” he said.
A former 14.5 handicapper, Bob now plays off 17 and is hoping to make his mark during his captaincy year.
“It would be lovely to win one of the competitions, but I expect to be far too busy to practice,” he admitted.
Despite being past retirement age, Bob continues to work alongside sons David and Darren at Pallett Man and Sons, Mossley, the company he founded in 1983.
But he still aims to find time to raise money for a charity close to his heart.
Bob has teamed up with like-minded members of other local golf clubs to support the Maple Wheelchair Society and he intends to use his year as Stamford captain to raise money towards another wheelchair for a special-needs child.
A hi-tech wheelchair costs between £6,000 and £12,000 and any funds generated at Stamford will go towards its purchase.
All sports come alike
DEREK Ashford, captain at Werneth, is a sporting all-rounder.
The 54-year-old, who owns an accounts practice in Lees, has turned his hand to a variety of pursuits.
He played tennis in the Oldham and Manchester Leagues, was a regular on the local weekend football scene for many years, and played second-team cricket for Werneth.
He was also a coach at Boundary Park Juniors until recently.
Derek is having another crack at golf after giving up the game in 1986 after three years of trying.
“I had other commitments, so I couldn’t play very often,” said Derek, who lives in Royton.
Married to Judith with two children Emily (21) and Bradley (17), he returned to the fairways in 1994 after moving to Jersey to take up a job at a chartered accountancy firm.
He still had the golfing bug when he returned to this country in 1999 and rejoined Werneth, where he has played ever since.
Derek, who has taken over the captaincy from David Whaley, is looking to build on his one major triumph at Werneth, last year’s Spring Eclectic Trophy.
He recorded a round of 78-12-62 which left him two shots clear of runner-up Peter Lomas (83-19-64).
Chairman at Werneth Cricket Club from 1990 to 1994 — he is now back as treasurer — Derek is looking to make his tenure as cheerful as possible.
He said: “Hopefully it will be an enjoyable year for everyone concerned at the club.
“It’s a friendly course, anyway, and it’s in fantastic condition.”
The 16-handicapper’s chosen charity for the next 12 months is Link4Pink.
