Page 35 - Oldham Evening Chronicle - October 2022

OCTOBER 2022 www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk 35
Sport

Roughyeds capture former Samoa

international winger Patrick Ah Van

By Roger Halstead can still motor a bit and he is regarded as a
hugely experienced player who still has the
THE departure from the club of vice- potential to score lots of tries, mainly on the
chairman John Roddy and the exciting wing but in the centre too if the need arises.
capture of former Samoa international Auckland-born, he has played previously
winger Patrick Ah Van were the big talking for New Zealand Warriors, Bradford
points among Oldham Rugby League fans Bulls, Widnes Vikings and North Wales
as the Chronicle’s monthly newspaper Crusaders, for whom he scored 22 tries in
edition went to press. 44 appearances in 2021 and 2022.
Not even the Heritage Trust’s latest He won five caps for Samoa in 2009, but
circulation of heritage certificates to former he is probably best remembered for his
players at a full-house Players’ Association eight seasons at Widnes in which he ran in
annual dinner or England’s stunning 60-6 95 tries in 123 games.
World Cup demolition job on Samoa Head coach Stu Littler was delighted to
could overshadow Roddy’s exit from land his first new signing to follow the
the Roughyeds or Ah Van’s recruitment re-signings of forwards Emmerson Whittel,
on a one-year contract as far as Oldham the club’s player of the year in 2022; local
supporters were concerned. boy Callum Cameron; and hooker Sean
Roddy first. The former chairman of Leigh Slater, once of Huddersfield Giants and
Centurions and Swinton Lions joined the England Academy, plus utility backs Joe
club as vice-chairman early in the year but Hartley and Kian Morgan.
has now decided to withdraw and to “get on Morgan, aged 21, played equally well last
with supporting from the terraces.” season at wing, centre, full-back and stand-
He added:”A big thank-you to Chris off, one of the key factors in his winning of
Hamilton (chairman) and the management “It’s simply time for me to hang up my his role and the game in general. He is the club’s Shooting Star award.
team for allowing me the opportunity to management boots.” extremely busy with his own business, and There are a lot more signings to come and
assist in developing improved relations Chairman Hamilton said: “John has we fully respect his decision.” all the signs indicate that Roughyeds will be
within the Oldham RL community. decided the time is right to step back from Now the new player. Ah Van is 34, but he stronger in 2023 than they were in 2022.
Keeping it in the family

By Mark Rooney is so exciting in every way. The elite off
field management team is the blend of the
YOU quickly realise when speaking to personalities and skillsets within our family,
Latics’ youngest board directors, Luke and also with Darren and Peter, who are both
Rothwell and Su Schofield, the two children incredible people.”
of Latics owner Frank Rothwell, that the They more than anyone are aware how they
apple does not fall far from the tree! have saved the club.
Both immediately exude the bonhomie, “It gives me goose pimples just thinking
charisma and charm that their father possesses about that” adds Su, “I was a season ticket
in such abundance in their roles as saviours holder in the 1990’s prior to going to
of the club and they are so enthusiastic university. The first time I saw the pitch after
about their roles. Clearly, through running a that was when we met former club owner
successful business at Manchester Cabins, Simon Blitz. We were given all the facts from
it has been an ideal breeding ground to hone Simon and at first, I thought this is going
business skills, enormously useful for Latics nowhere. But we decided as a family to get
going forward. on with it, consolidate as much as possible
They were born in the 1970s and their and see what we can do to make sure nothing
formative teenage years were spent watching untoward happens for the future generations
Latics at the height of their Premier League of the town. football matches and the rest are nice to haves have again and such outpouring of goodwill.”
success In the talks it became real and you fluctuate which we will keep chipping away at. We “People will see more and more of our
“Being Oldham born and bred and an between being excited and apprehensive so it are quickly moving into the next phase and actions over time that we are heading in the
Oldham family,” says Luke, the older sibling was an absolute rollercoaster of all emotions. utilising the land around the ground is really right direction. We are not afraid to take
by two years, “and being the age that we And then it finally became real and felt right. exciting. Everything we do on that ground has calculated risks before fully committing time,
were, it coincided with the Joe Royle era. You If the management team we have now cannot to benefit and feed the football side. effort and, in Latics’ case, our family silver.”
always have an affiliation to your local team. do it then nobody can.” Getting up to League One and banging on “We are confident we are like any good team
And the positivity that a local club can give to She continues “I want children and families the door of the Championship is where we with a blend of skills but the real difference is
a town or city is immense. And you must be of Oldham to drive to Boundary Park belong – though it seems a long way away at that, as a family, we have the musketeer spirit,
careful that you do not take that for granted. not to drive past as so many do. I believe the moment.” all for one and one for all.”
And everybody in Oldham is proud to be in incremental change. If each time our Su reflects “come the end of the season we “We want to make Boundary Park the
from Oldham, (though they like to moan as supporters come, something has improved a would all love to bounce straight back again, heartbeat of Oldham, and a healthy heartbeat,
well!) little bit the experience is better. but if we are in the middle of the table and it for the wellness and health of people in
“Obviously the football club is not in its “And as a woman” she laughs, “I still can’t is consolidated with its ground and the income Oldham. To make it a place to be inspired –
rightful place for its fan base. It is a striking believe I’m a director of a football club!” generated is going into the club, then we are for example those who are inspired by the
difference in the number of season tickets it With that inherited steely determination they on the right tracks. If in 2-5 years we have a Athleticos, I don’t think anybody who goes
sells compared to similar sized towns such as both have complete clarity about the way club which is self-sustainable we are really on into the Rochdale Road end having not been
Halifax and Rochdale.” forward the right tracks.” for some time, leaves without anything but a
“A unique set of circumstances drew us Luke continues “When we were losing Luke stresses that the emotional journey is smile of their face! And the guy with the drum
as a family to the football club. I describe during the Scunthorpe game, we were second just the same for a supporter or a director. was one of the clicks on the combination lock
the situation we face as the world’s longest from bottom but when we drew, we were “As Director, you have to suppress the highs – and a huge click at that!”
combination lock, which seems to be getting eight points from the playoffs. It is a bizarre and lows and try not to over react and under Finally, Su concludes, “we are loving that
longer! We are a world away from where league, entertaining but emotional.” react. The day of the procession was the most Dad is the one making the headlines – he is
we were two months ago. The opportunity “The most important thing is winning incredible day, an experience we will never social media gold!”