Rock on Tommy! - the Boundary Parkas prepare to release a very special song for Oldham

Local band the Boundary Parkas are set to release the official Oldham RLFC club song and new anthem for the town - 'I'm A Roughyed’ - on Sunday, September 1, on CD and across all major digital streaming services.

I'm A Roughyed is the band's debut single recorded at The Attic Studios with head engineer and producer James Loughlin, alongside co-producer Jake Fletcher.

The track has been mastered by Pete Maher, while a very special guest feature on vocals - none other than comedy icon Tommy Cannon.

After years of struggles, both on and off the pitch, Oldham Rugby was taken over earlier this year by Oldham legend Mike Ford as managing director of the club.

Shortly after the arrival of Ford, it was announced that iconic former Leeds Rhinos coach Sean Long would be taking on the role of manager, with the mission of returning the club to it’s former glory.

Since the new appointment, the team have gone from strength to strength in the Betfred League 1, eventually securing the league title and securing promotion in breath-taking style.

A cohort of Oldham musicians came together at the start of 2024 to provide entertainment at Boundary Park, the home of Oldham RLFC at every home fixture.

Over a few short months, the group have transformed from a run-of-the-mill covers band to a much-loved band of the people.

The band consists of household names such as singer-songwriter Kieran McMahon, Dirty Laces drummer Luke O’Reilly, Twisted Wheel bass player Harry Lavin and former Strereohaze frontman Charlie Whittaker.

The band's performances have become legendary with crowds flocking into the venue that lives beneath the Joe Royle stand for both pre-game ceremonials and post-game jubilations.

A huge part of the campaign's growing success in the lead-up to promotion has come from having fresh live entertainment down at the Ice Station Zebra fan zone on match days.

Huge anthems and chants echo around the stand from both home and away fans engaging with the band and their wide selection of much-loved classics.

The Boundary Parkas have emerged as a welcome breath of fresh air, helping to bring the community together through music.

In a bid to replicate the passion found in the terrace pitch side, co-frontman Kieran, otherwise known under the songwriting alias of Glen Millstone, envisioned a 60s pop style arrangement similar in style to pioneers of that era like The Kinks and The Beach Boys.

To achieve this sound the band employed the help of 99’s songwriter Jimmy Loughlin to produce the track, alongside his good friend Jake (currently part of Paul Weller’s live band).

To add the warmth of the Pennines Kieran recruited James Atkins and his right-hand man Adam Stretton who performed the brass section.

With a strong chord structure, married with well-thought-out creative sections, this track is anything but predictable.

The chant-style choruses mirror the passion of match-going fans in the same way any classic sporting anthem should do but with an added sprinkle of classic British songwriting class.

The vocal narrative is delivered with a folk identity referencing Oldham as an Old Mill Town” and mentioning the club's former Shedding s Ground” in a storytelling format reminiscent of folk writers like Ralph McTell, the Oldham Tinkers and Mike Harding.

Kieran effortlessly mixes history and tradition with the passion and pride felt at the club today.

The club's motto Stronger Together” features prominently within the track.

Meanwhile, comedy kings Cannon and Ball are still a household name across the world today.

The working-class hero story of two welders from Oldham befriending each other and their rise to stardom, from performing in tap rooms in pubs to the royal variety performance is the stuff of legend.

It is therefore no surprise that Cannon and Ball still hold the record for sold-out theatre performances nationwide.

In 1990, the legendary Oldham double act re-recorded the song ‘Boys in Blue’ to follow Latics' Road to Wembley before the team appeared at Wembley facing Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final.

This song is notorious to anyone remotely familiar with Boundary Park and has great significance and place in the club's history.

With that in mind, Kieran made plans to track down the star and managed to attend an intimate show at Smile Bar in Huddersfield.

From the moment Tommy walked on stage it was apparent how much this man meant to these people.

It was a typically terrific evening of moving stories and laughter, with a couple of songs thrown in to boot.

After the show, Kieran managed to introduce himself and pass on a letter inviting Tommy to record guest vocals on the new club song.

Tommy said it would be his pleasure to be part of the project in creating something special for his hometown, and another sporting classic song was born.

Bobby Ball passed away in 2020 at the age of 76. 

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.