ROUGHYED REVIEW

2021 PROGRAMME NO.1 ACTION SATURDAY MARCH 20 MAN KICK OFF LUKE 12.45PM

S A E S A E S A E P E R E · AU D P E R E · AU D P E R E · AU D OLDHAM RLFC OLDHAM RLFC OLDHAM RLFC OLDHAM BARROW RLFC V RAIDERS

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PASSIONATE ABOUT A CHAT WITH THE CHAIRMAN CHRIS HAMILTON Welcome to the first edition of the new For us, it is all about stadiums as soon as “normal” programme, improving again after a possible. Everybody online and adapted to much better performance wants that, but in the the strange times we against a strong Halifax meantime can I thank find ourselves having side last Saturday. you all for your support lived in for the last of the club during the last year and for who We deliberately gave 12 months. knows how long yet? ourselves two tough friendlies as that was the This has been mentioned Thank you to best way to see where before, but it has been everybody who has we are at and to give amazing what you have worked to make the players a taste of all done. We are very this happen. what the top sides will be grateful. about this season in the Championship. I hope you will all be As you are all aware, following the games on we start the 2021 season With so many new OuRLeague, which at today with our first players in the squad this least enables you to see competitive match year it will take a little the action, and hopefully against a Barrow bit longer than usual for you will be cheering us Raiders side which will everybody to bed in, but on today to our first come full of confidence. come kick-off today we victory of the season. will be raring to go! This is the Betfred Enjoy the game. Challenge Cup, of We were disrupted course, but they have last week with injuries Christopher Hamilton made no secret of their and then the late Chairman desire to win promotion withdrawals of Phil Joy from League One this and Ryan Ince, which season and that shows had a knock-on effect. their intention to move Those things, however, up in the world. are going to hit every club this season and They are one of only the impact of Covid three sides from that on players and staff is division which will be another factor that will, taking part in this year’s inevitably, come into Betfred Challenge Cup play at different times. because of Covid restrictions but there Playing matches behind is no doubt they will closed doors is very come with all guns strange and we all want blazing. to see fans back in 02 DISKIN’S DIARY A peep behind the scenes with head coach

Nothing is more expensive than Please stick by the boys. They're working a missed opportunity! hard and showing improvement in every session. As always, we greatly appreciate Our last outing against the support we receive from you all. was a frustrating affair for all involved. Thanks, Matt Diskin Our poor start to the game, errors and soft goal-line defence essentially cost us a vital two points. We were the better team for more than 60 minutes but that is little consolation when you are on the losing side. We are intelligent enough to realise the Betfred Championship is a ruthless divi- sion but, unfortunately, we are not trans- ferring that intelligence on to the field. In the last couple of weeks we have been burnt heavily at the start of games and we can’t make that same mistake again. We have to learn our lessons and learn them quicker than we are presently do- ing. The old saying that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ was an expression my assistant coach Brendan used on social media this week and it is quite apt for where we are as a group. There are negatives which we are deal- ing with, but overall we are making good progress in many areas of our game, both defensively and offensively.

The challenge for our group is to concentrate sufficiently enough to apply those improvements and turn them into positive results. 03 YOUR CAPTIAN CALLING

We were disappointed to lose 30-18 against Halifax but, the result apart, I thought we showed major improvement in performance In two games, but especially against and attitude. Halifax at Bower Fold, we really missed the support of our fans Disco told us to turn up with a better inside the ground. attitude towards our energy and our aggression and I think we did that. As Matty Fletcher has said, the first time we experienced the “silence”, It wasn’t perfect and there were at Featherstone, it was eerie. stages when we made it easy for them, but for the most part we met A week later, at Bower Fold, we had them front on and gave as good an idea of what to expect, but even as we got. so we missed you a lot. The sooner you can all get back the better it will With better decision-making and be for players, fans, the club, our better ends to our sets we would sport and the RFL so here’s hoping have been in a good position to go that it won’t be long before you on and win. are out there cheering us on. There were lots of positives and A lot of fans have said how much we need to step up another gear they miss their rugby. Take it from because we know Barrow will me, we are missing YOU as much come out firing. as you are missing US. You can watch us on Our League, of course, If you are watching on Our League, and it’s comforting to know lots give us a wave and a cheer! of you are doing that. Enjoy. The coverage is good and it’s great Gaz you can watch us, but I’m sure you’ll agree the sooner we’re back to normal the better for everyone. 04 THE 2021 SQUAD

GARETH OWEN

BEN HEATON BEN HOLCROFT CALLUM GREEN New boy from . New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

CAMERON LEEMING DAN ABRAM DANNY BRIDGE New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

DANNY LANGTREE DAVE HEWITT DECLAN GREGORY New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. GARETH OWEN JACK SPENCER JAMES BARRAN New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

JODE SHERIFFE JOE HARTLEY KYRAN JOHNSON New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut DANNY BRIDGE for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

LIAM BENT LIAM KIRK LUKE NELMES New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

(cont. on next page) 05 MARTYN REILLY MAX FLETCHER MAX ROBERTS New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

PHIL JOY RYAN INCE SHAUN PICK New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

TOMMY BRIERLEY TYLER DUPREE EXTRA New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. New boy from Wigan Warriors. Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games Aged 20, DOB 21/5/99. Played loan games at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 at Workington, Rochdale and Toulouse in 2018 and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut and 2019. Super League debut for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18. for Wigan, aged 18.

Luke Nelmes shines in Halifax friendly

LEWIS CHARNOCK

MARTYN REILLY

DANNY BRIDGE

LEWIS CHARNOCK

03MATT AND GAZ Luke Nelmes shines in Halifax friendly

TOMMY BRIERLEY CALLUM GREEN

LUKE NELMS

DAN ABRAM

GARETH OWEN 09 Player Focus Cameron Leeming

Q: Tell us about your day job. Q: What’s your biggest professional A: I work as a personal trainer. I’ve been disappointment to date ? doing it for almost four years and I’ve A: That was at Wakefield in the under-19s. loved every minute. I thought I was in with a decent chance of getting a full-time contract. but then I had Q: What was the worst thing you ever two serious knee injuries. I was out for 18 did at school? months. A: For a couple of years I was a bit “gobby” to teachers. I used to chat during Q: Outside your day job and rugby, lessons and I didn’t take kindly to teachers what do you do most ? interrupting! Generally, though, I didn’t A: I follow Leeds United home and away. think I was too bad. It’s a love/hate relationship. They’ve given me great memories and a lot of Q: If you won the lottery what would disappointments.I go to most games with you buy first? my dad and my sister and it’s always a A: I’ve always had a desire to see the good day out with them. world. I would go travelling everywhere and anywhere with the missus and our Q: What’s the best thing about being baby daughter Lotte, who was born last in the Oldham squad ? October. A: The lads make it for me. I’ve been in squads previously, dreaded going to Q: Which sports star do you most training and didn’t really get along. Since admire and why? I came to Oldham though, I’ve enjoyed A: As you get a bit older you find the every session because we have a top players at the highest level are those you group of lads. grew up playing with or against. When I was a lad, though, Keith Senior was Q: What would be your dream in life? always my idol -- a big, strong centre at A: I enjoy what I’m doing now, to be Leeds. I always tried to be like Keith. honest. I would carry on doing the same, but with a lot less hours and a lot more Q: How do you think your team mates money. would describe you? A: I like to think I’m quite a likeable character, hard-working and honest. But you’d have to ask the others, haha!

Q: What’s your biggest professional achievement to date ? A: I’ve only been playing first-team rugby in England for the last four years. I won the League 1 shield at Hunslet, but without doubt my most enjoyable achievement was our Promotion Final win against Newcastle Thunder in 2019. Couldn’t AWAY FROM THE GYM, AWAY FROM RUGBY . . . have won it with a better set of lads. MY FIANCE STEPH AND YOURS TRULY ON A NIGHT OUT. CAMERON LEEMING IN ACTION

11 Past players | Mark Sibson THOSE WERE THE DAYS In the first three features in this series we talked to John Hough, now living in Australia; to Neil Roden in Leigh; and to Steve Molloy nearer to home in Moorside. We pick up where we left off with . . . No 4: Mark Sibson, the flying full-back who raced in for 60 tries in 91 games during the Mike Ford era.

CENTRE PICTURE: The Sibson family . . . Mark, his wife Nicki and children Emily and Ben.

Q: When were you at Oldham RLFC win, but we were such a tight team we and where are you now ? went there and did a job on them. A: I was a ‘Roughyed’ between 2000 and 2003. I played in my favourite position of Q: Which sports star do you most fullback most of the time and I also had a admire and why? few games on the wing. A: I’m a big Everton FC fan, so I could pick a few there. However, I most admire Q: What was your most memorable people who come back year after year game and why? and retain their intensity and passion; A: There were a few. Definitely those in people like Kevin Sinfield or Jamie which we experienced adversity. Jones-Buchanan at , who admit to not being the most talented, The play-off comeback win in 2001 but are always among the the hardest against old rivals Rochdale was fantastic. working. To win such an important game by coming back from such a big deficit was unbeliev- Of sports stars who are currently playing, able. It was typical of the team that year. I’d go for England cricket all-rounder Ben We would never give in and anything was Stokes, whose late father was a Rugby possible. I also remember the play-off win League coach. Ben’s skill level is out of at Leigh where I scored the winner in the this world and he thrives on adversity. last ten minutes. Nobody expected us to He can be phenomenal under pressure! 12 Q: What would you consider to be your Q: What prompted your biggest professional achievement? decision to leave Oldham ? A: Playing In Super League. I signed on A: It was a tough decision but it was loan for Huddersfield Giants at the end of mostly about being closer to home and a season so I only played twice. I scored a work. I was living in Leeds and working try in both games and I was very proud to in Sheffield so when I was offered the have achieved what was a major goal chance to sign at Batley it made a lot of for me after just half a season in the sense for my life circumstances at the professional game. It was the year time. Travelling across the Pennines four Huddersfield and Sheffield merged. or five times a week takes it toll after I didn’t make the cut, but that meant three years. I could sign for Oldham, which was a great move for me. Q: What is your current day job? A: I’m a Director of Technology at HSBC. Q: And your biggest disappointment? It’s very different to Rugby League but A: Not winning a trophy. The closest I really enjoy it and I get to meet lots of I came was in the Grand Final for Oldham people from different parts of the world. against Widnes in 2001. We put everything into that but just came Q: What would be your dream up short to a very good Vikings team. role in life? A: I’d like to manage Everton FC and Q: How would your Oldham introduce some Rugby League attitudes teammates have described you? and principles. A: They would probably say I was quiet but determined. I was never the loudest on the pitch but I hope they would have recognised the commitment and honesty in my game. They’d probably say I was quite quick too!

Q: What did you like most about being in the Oldham squad? A: I loved the team spirit and togetherness we had, especially in the early years under Mike Ford. That was my favourite time in rugby. I made lifelong friends, some of whom I went on to play with at other clubs. We had the ‘us against the world’ mindset. I’ll remember that for ever.

13 BARROW RAIDERS We welcome Doncaster to the Vestacare the goal line but a wet surface allowed Stadium this afternoon for the third such Boas to slide the last few inches to score. visit of 2019 and the fourth occasion the Oldham fans and players had to endure sides have met this year. Back at the countless video replays on social media beginning of June the Roughyeds and in the following weeks and it wasn’t good Dons met for a round 2 tie in the inaugural viewing. 1895 Cup. That brings us to the season’s third Oldham tries from Adam Brook and Harry meeting of the two sides, just a few weeks Maders were not enough to stop the ago here at the Vestacare Stadium. Star Dons recording a 24-12 victory over a man Rangi Chase played at half-back for weakened Oldham side missing several a Dons side missing the influential Matty regular players. A chance for immediate Beharrell. revenge presented itself seven days later when the two sides would meet again for Oldham were able to put the 31-0 defeat a Betfred League 1 encounter in South to rest as they comprehensively overcame Yorkshire. their promotion rivals, winning 40-14 with tries from Bent, Hawkyard, Langtree, Oldham full-back Ritchie Hawkyard, the Crook, Leeming, Wilkinson and Owen. home side’s man-of-the-match in the cup The Oldham win was crucial to ensure tie, had this to say: “No disrespect, but our Roughyeds finished in second place at the main aim is to finish top of Befred League conclusion of the regular season. 1. “We’d a few changes in the side and we had to swap and change the game plan a few times. There was nothing in it until Donny got a breakaway try midway through the second half and then our heads dropped a bit. “Next week we’ll be hungry to put things right.” Someone must have pinned Ritchie’s words to the Doncaster dressing room door at the Keepmoat Stadium. Oldham were to produce their worst performance of the year on a day when nothing went right for ’s promotion hopefuls. Conversely, Doncaster staged one of their best performances of the season and blew Oldham away, winning 31-0. The game featured a brilliant individual try from Watson Boas, a squad member on loan for 2019. The Papua New Guinean player picked up a loose ball and ran almost the entire length of the huge Keepmoat pitch, pursued by several desperate Oldham defenders. Speedy winger Harry Aaronson collared him just short of 14 SQUAD 3 to watch

KIERAN GILL Top League 1 try-scorer KIERAN GILL with 26 — seven more KIERAN GILL Top League 1 try-scorer than second-placed Top League 1 try-scorer with 26 — seven more Gareth Potts of Hunslet. with 26 — seven more than second-placed Scored a hat-trick in last than second-placed Gareth Potts of Hunslet. week’s win over Don- Gareth Potts of Hunslet. Scored a hat-trick in last caster. Scored a hat-trick in last week’s win over Don- week’s win over Don- caster. Well known to Oldham caster. fans, having had two Well known to Oldham spells here on loan from Well known to Oldham fans, having had two . fans, having had two spells here on loan from spells here on loan from Castleford Tigers. Sed ut perspiciatis unde Castleford Tigers. omnis iste natus error sit Sed ut perspiciatis unde voluptatem accusantium Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit doloremque laudantium, omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium totam rem aperiam, voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, eaque ipsa quae ab illo doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, inventore veritatis et totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo quasi architecto beatae eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et aut fugit. inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae quasi architecto beatae aut fugit. aut fugit. 15 OLDHAM SWINTON

S A E S A E S A E P E R E · AU D P E R E · AU D P E R E · AU D OLDHAM RLFC OLDHAM RLFC OLDHAM RLFC RLFC LIONS

Kyran JOHNSON 01 Mick Harrop Mo AGORO

Aaron JONES-BISHOP 02 Les and Eileen Davison Harry ALDOUS

Zack MCCOMB 03 David and Val Webster Jack ALDOUS

Jack HOLMES 04 David and Val Webster Jared BLAKE

Richie HAWKYARD 05 Rita Walton Joe BROWN

Paul CROOK 06 Rita Walton Keal CARLISLE

Dave HEWITT 07 Chris Noble MBE Jed CHARLTON

Phil JOY 08 Past Players’ Association Rhys CLARKE

Gareth OWEN 09 Purpose Business and Marketing Ltd Alex CLEGG

Scott LAW 10 Les and Eileen Davison Dan COATES

Ben CALLAND 11 Luke, Abbie and Jessica Davies Tyler CRAIG

Emmerson WHITTEL 12 John and Lynda McAndrew Carne DOYLE MANGA

Jack SPENCER 13 Graeme Lee Joel EDWARDS

Adam BROOK 15 John Davies Conor FITZSIMMONS

Danny LANGTREE 16 Keith and Shirley Mullaney and Grant and Sheila Somerville Kieran GILL

Jimmy BECKETT 17 CDX Security, 01925 737 504 Kieran HUDSON

Ben DAVIES 18 Neil Gibbison RIP Quentin LAULU-TOGAGA’E

Jamie GREENWOOD 19 Sandra Bullock Remy MARGINET

Matty WILKINSON 20 John and Lynda McAndrew Liam MCAVOY

Lee KERSHAW 21 Rugby Oldham Supporters’ Trust Nick NEWMAN

Danny GRIMSHAW 22 Neil Gibbison RIP Aaron OLLETT

Liam BENT 24 ORSA Alex ROWE

Danny BRIDGE 25 Pam Taylor and LTS Niall SIDNEY

Anthony BOWMAN 26 Graeme Lee Evan SIMONS

Harry MADERS 27 Pam Taylor Misi TAULAPAPA

Harry AARONSON 28 Rugby Oldham Supporters’ Trust David WEETMAN

Cameron LEEMING 29 Les and Eileen Davison Lewis YOUNG

Ed SMITH – CDX Security, 01925 737 504 Head Coach | Luke HOOLEY – Graeme Lee

Kiedan HARTLEY – Sandra Bullock

Declan KAY – Neil Gibbison RIP

Scott Naylor | Head Coach Keith and Shirley Mullaney

Peter Carey | Assistant Coach Keith and Shirley Mullaney

Adam Neal | Conditioner Purpose Business and Marketing Ltd

Referee: L. Moore Touch Judge 2: B. Pearson

Touch Judge 1: J. Smith Reserve Referee: M. Smaill