Oldham Chronicle - News & Features

Bridge banned following failed drugs test

Oldham second row forward Danny Bridge has been banned after testing positive for cocaine after Roughyeds’ game at Whitehaven last year.

Date Published 18/01/2021

Small grants making a huge difference to community Rugby League

Saddleworth Rangers and a new club in Ashton, Tameside Knights, are among more than 30 rugby league clubs, schools and community organisations across England to be awarded small...

Date Published 16/01/2021

Start of Oldham RL season put back 'several weeks'

The start of Oldham RL Club's Betfred Championship season, scheduled for late February, has been put back to a later date because of ongoing Covid issues.

Date Published 14/01/2021

Owen talks up mid-table finish hopes

Although Oldham have found it tough going in the Championship in three of the last five seasons, (2016, 2017, 2020), club captain Gareth Owen is confident Matt Diskin's new-look...

Date Published 07/01/2021

Clubs advised to pause training

The Rugby League has advised all Betfred Championship and League 1 clubs, including Oldham, to pause pre-season training for the next two weeks because of the rapidly-spreading...

Date Published 06/01/2021

Tributes pour in after death of rugby league legend 'Jocky'

Oldham RLFC has joined the tributes that Saddleworth Rangers are receiving from near and far - from right across rugby league's community game, in fact - following the death on...

Date Published 04/01/2021

Roughyeds gearing up for late-February start

If all goes to plan, Oldham Rugby League Club will kick off the 2021 Betfred Championship season on the weekend of February 27 and 28 with their biggest and best squad for many...

Date Published 26/12/2020

All systems go on 2021 season tickets

Oldham Rugby League Club has launched its 2021 season-ticket campaign by holding prices at this year's levels and enabling fans to pay in three instalments.

Date Published 21/12/2020

Roughyeds replica shirts available for collection in time for Christmas

Oldham Rugby League fans who have ordered replica shirts in time for Christmas can collect them from the club's office at the Vestacare Stadium between 10am and noon tomorrow...

Date Published 18/12/2020

New tv deal for Challenge Cup coverage

The Rugby League has landed a new and enhanced three-year deal with the BBC to extend Challenge Cup coverage until 2024.

Date Published 17/12/2020

Courageous Smith bows out after three-year injury battle

Courageous Ed Smith, the Oldham forward, has reluctantly called time on his rugby league career because of injury.

Date Published 16/12/2020

A jersey full of glorious memories

Oldham Rugby League Club has given fans a treat by putting on sale replicas of a 2021 home kit which is a throwback to the one the Roughyeds played in during a fabulous Second...

Date Published 12/12/2020

Rivalry with Thunder to continue

Oldham have enjoyed tremendous games with Newcastle Thunder in the last few seasons - none better than the 2019 Promotion Play-Off Final at the Vestacare Stadium - and the rivalry...

Date Published 11/12/2020

Roughyeds return to training after 9-month delay

After an enforced absence of nine months, Roughyeds were back in training for the first time on Tuesday night as pre-season work for the 2021 Betfred Championship campaign got...

Date Published 09/12/2020

It's time for Roughyeds fans to get excited - new-boy Reilly

Martyn Reilly, one of 12 of Oldham Rugby League Club's new signings for 2021, has told Roughyeds' fans: "Look forward to next year. You've a lot to get excited about !".

Date Published 07/12/2020

Hamilton, Diskin salute the work of ORSA

Following Oldham RL Club's acknowledgement of the part played by a fans' Club Strengthener scheme in the creation of a 27-man squad for 2021, Roughyeds have taken their...

Date Published 05/12/2020

Squad Strengthener has had a key role to play - Hamilton

Oldham Rugby League Club has revealed that contributions from a fans' Squad Strengthener fund have helped head coach Matt Diskin to assemble what looks like the Roughyeds' biggest...

Date Published 02/12/2020

Roughyeds trio on the run

Roughyeds regular Howard Mayers, who supports his home-town rugby league team with his wife Hazel and small boys Leo (9) and Sam (6), won't forget Covid-19 in a hurry.

Date Published 02/12/2020

Sheriffe joins Oldham coaching staff

Prop Jode Sheriffe, Oldham Rugby League club's senior player at the age of 34, will soon start a new chapter in his long career when he joins the Roughyeds coaching staff.

Date Published 28/11/2020

These boots were made for tackling

Tackling-machine Liam Bent, Oldham RL Club's popular loose-forward, has forged a link with St Chads pharmacy in Lime Green Parade, Limeside, which is little more than a stone's...

Date Published 23/11/2020

Roughyeds season could start in March says Chairman

Oldham’s Rugby League team might be back on the pitch a year after they played their last game when the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Date Published 23/11/2020

Ince returns to Roughyeds for extended stay

Oldham Rugby League Club is "excited" by the signing of Leigh Centurions and former Widnes Vikings winger Ryan Ince, who played two Betfred Championship games on loan for...

Date Published 19/11/2020

Johnson signs new deal at Oldham

Oldham Rugby League Club has taken its squad numbers for 2021 to 25 - its biggest for years - by agreeing a new, 12 months deal with former Featherstone Rovers wing or full-back...

Date Published 12/11/2020

£500-a-week boost for Oldham RL lottery members

Since Covid-19 caused Roughyeds to abandon door-to-door Club Cash lottery collections, the club says there's never been a better time to join and help Matt Diskin's men to get...

Date Published 09/11/2020

Championship, League One clubs target March return

Oldham RLFC, in line with the Rugby Football League (RFL), the Betfred Championship and Betfred League One, hope to be playing again in March, possibly behind closed doors, but...

Date Published 07/11/2020

Diskin snaps up local lad Barran

Oldham Rugby League Club has signed a fourth former Wigan Warriors youngster in Oldham-born stand-off James Barran (22), to add to the captures of his ex-Warriors colleagues Ben...

Date Published 06/11/2020

And then there were ten!

Oldham RLFC has signed a tenth new player for 2021 by recruiting 21-year-old Callum Green, a full-back or half-back from Warrington Wolves.

Date Published 31/10/2020

Oh, the Joy of it all!

Congratulations have been pouring in on social media for two of Oldham Rugby League Club's popular players who have each passed never-to-be-forgotten milestones in their private...

Date Published 30/10/2020

Oldham RLFC continue to strengthen their squad

Oldham RLFC has further strengthened its pack for 2021 with the capture of Bradford's 23-year-old forward Liam Kirk.

Date Published 28/10/2020

Roughyeds ‘humbled’ by show of support

Most of Oldham RL Club's 2020 season-ticket holders, who have seen only three of the 13 games they paid for in advance, have said they will not ask for refunds.

Date Published 26/10/2020

Oldham snap up their second young Warrior

Oldham RLFC has announced further squad strengthening for 2021 with the capture of a second young player from the renowned Wigan Warriors school of rugby league skills and...

Date Published 23/10/2020

Dual-reg shelved on medical grounds

The decision to put dual-registration regulations on-hold for a 2021 Betfred Championship and Betfred League One season that will inevitably be built into Covid-19 guidelines...

Date Published 21/10/2020

Oldham sign young Wigan winger

Oldham Rugby League club has signed 19-year-old Wigan Warriors winger Ben Holcroft on a one-year deal.

Date Published 16/10/2020

Joy, Langtree chase 200-game milestone

By signing new two-year contracts to stay at Oldham until the end of the 2022 season, forwards Danny Langtree and Phil Joy will be planning to hit a 200-game milestone -- reached...

Date Published 15/10/2020

Oldham Pick up experienced forward Shaun

Oldham RLFC has signed a sixth new player for 2021 in experienced forward Shaun Pick, who has previously played for Featherstone Rovers, Toronto Wolfpack, Sheffield Eagles and...

Date Published 14/10/2020

Oldham re-sign ex-Wigan and Saints junior

Oldham Rugby League Club has re-signed former Wigan and St Helens junior John Hutchings to take the number of signings announced so far for 2021 to 18.

Date Published 09/10/2020

More good news on sponsors

Oldham RLFC has reported more good news on sponsorship - a crucial part of the business at any time, but especially so right now in these times of unprecedented financial

Date Published 05/10/2020

Gaz and Co do the business for Thomas

A five-man team led by Oldham RL captain Gareth 'Gaz' Owen braved high winds and continuously driving rain to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire on Saturday to raise...

Date Published 05/10/2020

The prodigal son is home

Centre Ben Heaton, who left Oldham as a youngster nine years ago, has returned to Roughyeds as a battle-hardened pro with more than 200 games behind him, half of them in the...

Date Published 01/10/2020

Roughyeds captain leads team on fund-raising challenge

Roughyeds captain Gareth Owen will supplement his personal training during this pandemic by leading a team from Waterhead ARLFC on a major fund-raising challenge in Yorkshire.

Date Published 29/09/2020

Oldham RLFC launch campaign for ‘Our League’

At a time when, stricken by the pandemic, the national economy is taking a pounding -- and sport generally is fighting for its life -- Oldham RLFC has launched a campaign to get...

Date Published 28/09/2020

Smith signs new deal at Oldham

Former York City Knights captain Ed Smith has signed a new one-year deal at Oldham to extend his stay to the end of the 2021 season.

Date Published 26/09/2020

'Alex' pledge to 'reach for the stars' in new rugby role

Former Oldham RL prop Adrian Alexander has accepted an invitation to become the club's first Ambassador.

Date Published 25/09/2020

Phil's Joy as he closes in on Oldham testimonial

Described by coach Matt Diskin as a "cornerstone of the club", long-serving prop Phil Joy (29) has signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at Oldham until the end of the...

Date Published 18/09/2020

Government approve four Rugby League pilot events

Rugby League fans will return to the Betfred Super League in England on Wednesday September 30 after the Government granted permission for four fixtures to be staged as pilot...

Date Published 17/09/2020

Oldham add another name to their line-up

Oldham Rugby League Club has confirmed that Dan Abram has signed a new one-year contract to extend his stay at the club where his dad, Darren, was a free-scoring centre nearly 30...

Date Published 16/09/2020

Tackling machine Bent signs new deal

Liam Bent, Oldham RL Club's top tackler and the fans' player of the year in 2018 and 2019, has signed a new one-year deal.

Date Published 11/09/2020

Jack's back on board again

On and off the field in the last five seasons Oldham RL forward Jack Spencer has been able to walk tall as a loyal, hard-working and much respected player and person.

Date Published 09/09/2020

Sheridan signs new deal at Oldham

Brendan Sheridan has signed a new contract to stay at Oldham as coach Matt Diskin's No 2 - and he has since revealed why Roughyeds are investing in a bigger pack.

Date Published 05/09/2020

Ram-raid gives Oldham a third Dewsbury ace

Oldham RLFC has confirmed the signing of Dewsbury Rams prop Martyn Reilly, who has opted to join Roughyeds despite having several other offers on the table.

Date Published 02/09/2020

Oldham chairman marks hero Platt's Roll of Honour induction

Oldham RLFC chairman Chris Hamilton was a special guest of the Rugby Football League at a function in Huddersfield on Saturday to mark the sport's 125th birthday and to add Joseph...

Date Published 01/09/2020

Centre Cam signs new deal at Oldham

Centre Cam Leeming came to Oldham Rugby League Club in June, 2019 in time to play a huge role in the club's promotion to the Betfred Championship and now he has confirmed his...

Date Published 28/08/2020

Second ex-Rhinos youngster joins Oldham

Winger or full-back Tommy Brierley (23), a Leeds Rhinos product, has signed a one-year deal with Betfred Championship side Oldham after spells with York, Hunslet and home-town...

Date Published 24/08/2020

Hewitt adds an extra year to Oldham stay

Scrum-half Dave Hewitt has signed a new one-year contract in readiness for his fifth full season at Oldham.

Date Published 20/08/2020

Nigel’s legacy can make an impact

With an exciting 2021 squad-building project in full flow, ORSA officials, led by energetic chairman John McAndrew, are keen to draw attention to ORSA's Squad Strengthener scheme...

Date Published 20/08/2020

Oldham’s Wilkinson staying put

Livewire hooker Matty Wilkinson has signed a new one-year contract at Oldham Rugby League Club.

Date Published 19/08/2020

Harry calls time on his rugby career

Local lad Harry Aaronson, Oldham Rugby League Club's former Swinton Lions and Keighley Cougars winger, has retired from the game to devote his time and energies to a new full-time...

Date Published 18/08/2020

Tough-guy Nelmes heads back to Oldham

Luke Nelmes, the Dewsbury Rams and former Halifax prop, has re-signed for newly-promoted Betfred Championship side Oldham where he had a successful League One season in 2018.

Date Published 17/08/2020

Charnock, Fletcher tied to Oldham

Oldham Rugby League Club have confirmed that stand-off Lewis Charnock and young forward Matt Fletcher are under contract to the end of next season.

Date Published 15/08/2020

Oldham snap up Leeds young gun Dupree

Oldham have followed up the retention of long-serving Danny Langtree for two more years by announcing the capture of Leeds Rhinos' top young gun Tyler Dupree.

Date Published 14/08/2020