Hough hangs up his boots

Chris Hough: bowing out

RUGBY: TWENTY-EIGHT years of playing rugby league have come to an end for Chris Hough.

His obsession with the game ended where it had started, Waterhead Park, where Chris had been coaxed on to the field as a four year old, by his late father Mick.

Hough (32) cracked his breastbone while playing for Waterhead - the team he also coaches - against Ovenden in the National Conference Challenge Trophy last week. Though he carried on, his injury, plus a a long-standing shoulder injury, have made the decision to quit for him.

“The game has been part of my life since as long as I can remember,” said Hough, who is also assistant coach at Rochdale Hornets.

“But the time has come to call it a day. It isn’t just the chest either. It is taking me five or six days to get over any little knocks now. My head is telling me to pack it in. I’ll concentrate fully on coaching though I might put the boots on again for a game of touch and pass in my testimonial at Rochdale.”

Chris hadn’t intended to pull on a Waterhead jersey this season, but injuries and lack of availability within the squad forced his hand.

Now Chris will channel all his efforts on a Saturday afternoon to influencing Waterhead from the sidelines in Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two.

Tomorrow, he takes his squad to Ovenden for a rematch of last week’s cup tie — when his two tries helped the club to a 54-22 victory.


OLDHAM ST ANNE’S face a stiff task in Division Two, but at least have home advantage.

Mick Fogerty’s men are at home to current table-toppers Kells, who have won nine of their 10 encounters so far this season.

The Cumbrian visitors will no doubt find themselves up against a Saints side still riding high on the confidence gained from an extra-time victory over Division One side Eccles last week.