‘The voice’ pens new Roughyeds deal

Lewis Palfrey: sticking with Roughyeds

ROUGHYEDS captain, goalkicker and chief tactician Lewis Palfrey has signed a new deal to stay at Oldham in 2016.

As coach Scott Naylor’s voice in the heat of battle, 25-year-old Palfrey has played a key role on and off the field in what he calls a “cracking’ season. His new deal will tie him to the club for a fourth season.

Naylor, delighted to see his captain commit to another year, said: “I’ve known Lewis since he was a teenager at Salford, so we go back a long way. He was always willing to listen and learn, and he still is.

“He has improved his performance over each of the three seasons we’ve been together at Oldham and he’s matured into the quality half-back we always felt he would become when we had him as a youngster.

“He’s a good captain, too. He has the respect of all the lads and leadership has helped him to develop his own game.”

With 103 goals and 251 points, the former Whitehaven player is sure to finish the Kingstone Press League One campaign at Oxford on Saturday (3pm) as the division’s leading marksman and top points scorer. If Roughyeds win or draw their final game of the regular season he will be presented, as captain, with the League Leaders’ Shield. And on Monday he will have a one in four chance of becoming League One player of the year.

“I was chuffed to sign for another year,” he said. “This one has been a cracking season and we’ve still got it all to play for.

“If we get promoted, we’ll face different challenges to this year, but we’re already starting to build for 2016 and with Scott and Lee Spencer still here, we’ll be well equipped to do okay.”

George Tyson, also nominated for League One player of the year, is expected to be available for the Oxford game despite being badly shaken up when making a tackle in the defeat of Swinton Lions.

Buyt Naylor confirmed Danny Langtree will be rested this week after playing the last few games with niggling injuries.