Celebration as clubhouse opens

SADDLEWORTH Rangers president Terry Flanagan with the plaque which adorns the new clubhouse

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RUGBY Football League chief executive Nigel Wood saluted the "wonderful achievement" of Saddleworth Rangers' new clubhouse.

Rangers officials, those who gave up their time to help in its construction, rugby league hierarchy, local dignitaries, and stars of the game brought up at the Shaw Hall Bank Road ground gathered to celebrate its opening.

Named in honour of Rangers president Terry Flanagan, the former Oldham RL captain and Great Britain international, the clubhouse, featuring a picture gallery of great moments in Rangers history and their stars, was five years in the planning. It replaces the previous structure built in 1974.

Wood and RFL chief operating officer Ralf Rimmer were present at the official unveiling, attended by 100 guests.

"It is a wonderful achievement and a great tribute to many people," said Wood. "It represents everything that is good about this club and rugby league in general that a community can come together and make such a massive undertaken such as this really happen.

"Rugby league teaches values that last a lifetime and in the middle of that is community and fellowship and respect, and it takes all of those qualities and organisation, discipline, hard work, tenacity and perseverance - all of which are attributes on the field but have to be equally visible off the field to have a successful club.

"Rangers have been a strong club for a long period of time, as I know from my cost when I was a player, and there is no reason why it won't continue to be."

Club chairman Shane Wilson paid tribute to the efforts of the members, fans and sponsors who helped fund the project and aided in its construction. They included committee member Dave Tyrrell, who oversaw the project.

UNVEILED

Wilson and club treasurer Karen Thompson unveiled the plaque bearing Flanagan's name and that of other supporters, the Oldroyd Foundation and Veolia Environmental Trust.

Special guests included former Rangers juniors Mark Flanagan of Salford Red Devils, and Hull KR's James Greenwood, rugby league star Kevin Sinfield, as well as top Super League referee Robert Hicks.

The public got their first glimpse of the £315,000 structure before Rangers' National Conference League game against Oulton Raiders.

A crowd of more than 400 had arrived by kick-off, and with families continuing to arrive during the afternoon, gate receipts and bar sales were set to pass previous records.

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