Kit deal perfect fit for Oldham

Chris Hamilton

OLDHAM Rugby League Club have completed a kit and leisure wear deal with world-wide manufacturers Kappa.

This well-known Italian brand, launched in Turin in 1967, spans the globe and is regarded by Roughyeds as the perfect fit for an ambitious club that is working hard to make progress on and off the field.

The link-up with Kappa is a direct result of the club's association and partnership with Hull-based BuySportsKit, which managed the Roughyeds' merchandise operation with a different brand last year.

Said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton: "I had a productive meeting with Kappa at their Manchester offices and to be dealing with such an iconic brand is very appropriate as we project the club forward towards its 20th-anniversary season next year.

'MASSIVE'

"It will be a massive season for the club, on and off the field, and Kappa will provide quality kit for the players and quality leisure wear for our supporters. We are looking forward to working with them and to continuing our partnership with BuySportsKit."

Selected leisure wear will go on sale soon.

James Milner, national sales manager for BuySportsKit, said the company was delighted to be working with Oldham again for the 2017 season.

He added: "The club has a great set of fans who really bought into what we and the Roughyeds were doing in our first season together. It was one of our better partnerships and we were keen to do it again.

"We are hoping to have an even better merchandise operation over the next 12 months."

Scott Naylor, meanwhile, is banking on the quality of his 2017 squad, which is still not complete, to encourage more fans to support the side at Bower Fold in the new Championship season which starts in February.

In the week that season tickets went on sale, he said: "It's great to know we are back at Bower Fold where we won a large percentage of our games last season. It's just the sort of venue that meets our needs and the Stalybridge people go out of their way to look after us.

"It's a great little stadium and I know our regular fans will vouch for that.

"It would be nice to see more fans there. I know it's not in Oldham, but it's not far away. We like to think we will kick-on from what we did last season and the town's large rugby league community can be part of it and help us to push forward."