New £1m pitch at Boundary Park stadium will ‘level up’ Oldham sport – including rugby league
Leading politicians have agreed to invest £1million in a new pitch at Boundary Park Stadium, which will serve both football and rugby teams and aims to improve local sport.
Oldham’s Cabinet has voted in favor of a plan to award a grant for a new, quality pitch at the stadium, home of Oldham Athletic Football Club. The ailing football club was bought last year by local businessman Frank Rothwell who is aiming to take Latics back into the Football League.
It has now been revealed that there is an agreement in principle between Oldham Athletic and Oldham Rugby League Football Club that the first rugby league team games will be played at Boundary Park from the 2024 season. The new pitch will also allow the Roughyeds to play larger games within the precinct.
Council leader Amanda Chadderton said: “Both Oldham Athletic and the Roughyeds have a really strong history and a lot of support across the City of Oldham.
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“By investing in a new pitch at Boundary Park, the Council is helping both clubs achieve the common goal of playing their home games at Boundary Park from the 2024 season.
“This will allow us to get the Roughyeds closer to center Oldham again and back to much of their support.”
Currently, Oldham Rugby League Football Club is “limited in its ability to host larger games and accommodate all of its supporters at the current training facilities within the borough,” officials said.
As a result, some games have had to be played away from Oldham, which “dilutes” fan attendance and engagement, according to the cabinet report.
In addition, local residents have raised concerns about the suitability of AVRO’s training facilities in Hollinwood, as they are affected by noise and parking issues. The proposal also aims to reduce the “larger footfall” around this location.
Count Chadderton added she visited the football ground with members of both clubs. “I think it’s fair to say everyone was really excited about what it means for both clubs and also how it can begin to unlock greater community investment in Boundary Park and beyond,” she said.
“Frank, the Rothwell family and Darren Royle have big ambitions and big plans for the future of the club and I hope this can get some of those plans going and in the process create jobs and opportunities for Oldhamers.
“Securing the future of Oldham rugby is absolutely tremendous, but also allowing and hopefully unlocking some of that ambition for Boundary Park that the Rothwells have is really a significant step forward.”
Once upgraded, the new, better quality turf could be used more than a hundred times a year for a range of sports including rugby league, women’s football, as well as by schools, colleges and other local leagues.
Councilor Elaine Taylor, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “I think from a grassroots perspective this has been very well received and I think in terms of our ambition for the city and our pride for the city this is really positive. “
And there is the possibility of a ‘sports campus’ being built on the Oldham site which would offer a wider range of higher skill courses and community facilities for youth clubs and teams.
Up to 150 college students are already studying on-site each week in facilities on the first floor of the Joe Royle Stand, and now a physical education provider has also approached the club to “attract new cohorts of physical education students”. and analytics, sports media and special health courses such as physiotherapy”.
Work on the new pitch would take place during the summer months during the off-season for the football club.
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