Dickenson is back at Higgy helm

RUGBY:

IT’S all change at Higginshaw, with Craig Dickenson back at the helm and ex-player Gary Dobbs as his right-hand man.

He has taken over from Paul Deakin, who will coach the club’s promising under-17s side.

Dickenson was in charge three years ago. He has since been blowing the whistle on teams in his role as a referee.

He was in the Higgy team which competed in the NWCL’s top flight from 1996 to 2000.

The pair have got a tough job on their hands as half-a-dozen of last season’s squad have moved across town to join Oldham St Anne’s.

The six — Dave Sweeney, Sean Stubbs, Michael Cadd, Carl Fields, Michael Smith and Ryan O’Donnell — will be missed.

However, Callum Deakin, a scrum-half, winger Jack Hughes and Elliot White, a hooker, have the potential to step up from the under-17s to the first team.

Higgy kick off their NWCL Division Two campaign at home to Hindpool on Saturday.

The club are on the look-out for new players. For more details, call secretary John Mellor 07970 100606




SATURDAY’S opening games in the National Conference League’s Alliance section pits Waterhead at home against Saddleworth Rangers, while Oldham St Anne’s go to Rochdale Mayfield.