Oldham mourn legend Frank

THE great Frank Stirrup, one of Oldham Rugby League Club's best-ever players, has died in a Leigh care home at the age of 88.

A member of the illustrious few to be honoured in the Oldham RL Heritage Trust's Hall of Fame, he played a huge part in laying the foundations for the success of the great Watersheddings side of the mid and late 1950s.

He played in 224 senior games for Oldham between 1951 and 1960, when the club appeared in two Championship finals, won the Lancashire Cup three years in a row and built a reputation as one of the most entertaining teams ever to grace the then purely northern sport.

His funeral service will be on February 14 at noon, St Joseph's RC Church, Chapel Street, Leigh. Details funeral directors Sankey and Monks 01942 673171.



ANOTHER ex-Oldham player, full-back Gordon Pollard, has died in Weymouth, Dorset, aged 58.
Signed from St Joseph's amateur club in Huddersfield, he played 23 senior games in two spells at Watersheddings between 1976 and 1981.

His funeral is on Monday, February 11 (2.30pm) at Weymouth Crematorium. The funeral directors are Cotton and Son, Weymouth (tel: 01305 767676).