Boundary Park move for Roughyeds best for sport in Oldham area

OLDHAM rugby league club will share Boundary Park with the town’s football club, a move its council believes will benefit every sport in the area.

The Roughyeds will leave the much-maligned Vestacare Stadium at the end of the current season, with a £1million investment to clean up the pitch at their Mew home.

And Oldham Council believes this will have knock-on effects as it will “unlock greater opportunities for further investment in community sports grounds, improved education, more health opportunities and the creation of additional employment opportunities”.

The move means Oldham can play league games in the city if they are promoted as their current base is not seen as good enough.

That has forced them to play League Two games at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold ground.

And Oldham Council has set out in a report for its Cabinet why investing and bringing two clubs together under one roof is vital.

It said: “Council is keenly aware of the outstanding sporting achievements of the Borough with some amazing contributions from Oldham residents and communities at the local, regional, national and international levels.

“Sporting excellence can now be found across a range of different sports including netball, cricket, rugby and we are now hoping for a happy turn of events following the recent acquisition of Oldham Athletic Football Club.

“Now is the time to continue improving here in Oldham through the lens of sport and health and creating future employment opportunities to benefit the communities of Oldham, particularly for our successful youth teams who deserve access to better facilities which in turn improve health and well-being and future employment opportunities.

“For some time the Council has known that Oldham Rugby League Football Club (ORLFC) has been limited in its ability to host larger games and accommodate all of its supporters at the current training facilities within the borough.

“As a result, some matches have been played outside the precinct, diluting opportunities for rugby fans to attend and watch matches.”

Oldham Council also believes the move to Boundary Park will allay concerns from local residents living near the Roughyeds’ training facility and the investment will also result in women’s football teams, local schools, colleges and local leagues for representative games are played on the surface.

And it is hoped it will bring prosperity to the town again, as Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Chairwoman of Oldham Council, said: “Following the recent purchase of Latics by the Rothwell family, we are also hoping for more success on the football pitch.

“But these achievements do not come by themselves. They start on pitches across the country. It is therefore important to support mass sport.

“By investing in young people and creating better clubs and communities locally, we can sow the seeds for a more prosperous and sustainable sporting future – and help our people, teams and clubs achieve their highest potential.”

A spokesman for the Roughyeds added: “To have the privilege of returning to Boundary Park Stadium – a sporting venue with great character, heritage and potential – is a real honor and one that gives us a huge platform for our development.

“Together we want to work for the good of Oldham and ensure that our city is once again known for its sporting excellence.”

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