Ogden bags league award

Ian Ogden (centre), with surprise presenter Anita Halliwell and Phil Bradbury

IAN Ogden has been rewarded for his work to promote rugby league in the borough.

While enjoying an evening out with Waterhead Warriors players he was ambushed by Anita Halliwell and Phil Bradbury from the Oldham Amateur League executive committee.

They presented him with a framed “unsung hero” certificate honouring Ogden’s time spent boosting over-35s masters rugby in the area.

In the last three years Ogden and Chris Garforth have organised a masters game in memory of the late Johnny Blair, played before the Standard Challenge Cup final.

The duo also put together an Oldham side in 2015 for a match celebrating 125 years of rugby league. Ogden and Garforth raised money so the players could keep their replica jerseys.

Ogden’s award comes hot on the heels of Garforth being named the British Amateur Rugby League Association’s unsung hero for 2015. The Rangers stalwart — the highly-respected player at Shaw Hall Bank Road has turned committee man — was also rewarded for his unstinting service in enhancing Masters rugby league.