Pitching in

Fred Halliwell, secretary of Hollinwood ARLFC.

RUGBY: 

FRED Halliwell, Hollinwood ARFLC’s loyal secretary, is appealing to the community to get behind the club.

Starting Saturday the Pennine League outfit is holding junior coaching sessions at its Fields New Road ground (start 10.30am). Boys and girls from age seven are urged to come along to give rugby league a go.

Hollinwood’s aim is to form junior teams, from which the next generation of senior players can be nurtured. Halliwell says that such a set-up could safeguard the future of the club.

Hollinwood want to sign another lease on the ground — the 30-year agreement with the Rugby Football League is up for renewal — and a burgeoning junior section would aid the cause.

“There are three pitches here and we’re only using one for the open-age team,” said 75-year-old Halliwell. “If we can secure another long-term lease on the ground, it would help in securing grants.

“But for the RFL to look favourably at our request, we must be seen to be making progress in

providing junior teams and, for example, improving the floodlights at the ground.

“In a way, it’s turned into a chicken and egg situation.”

Before moving to their present site more than three decades ago, the club was based at Ferranti’s on Hollinwood Avenue.

“We are in a great catchment area, so there is scope to do something here. It’s just getting the funds and support to do it. The facilities are already very good, with decent changing rooms and showers for the players and a separate one for the referee. The pitch is one of the best in Oldham, with floodlights which are used for training. Oldham Sixth Form College use it, and Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead have used it in past when their grounds have been unfit.

“An extension to the clubhouse would be ideal. We could also look at a gym. There is so much we could do given the chance.”



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