This is our club: Ford excited about Oldham’s huge opportunity

Oldham managing director Mike Ford

Oldham RL managing director Mike Ford has challenged the club’s core fan base to “bring one more person” each as attendances to watch Sean Long’s exciting table-toppers continue to grow.

Ford has highlighted the exciting brand of rugby league being played by the Roughyeds as a key factor in growing attendances.

Oldham recently boasted their biggest home league crowd in 16 years to watch the derby win over Rochdale, and Ford believes the team is fast becoming the hottest ticket outside of Super League.

“If I was a fan I would want to come here and watch PLT (Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e) play,” said Ford in an exclusive interview with Roughyeds TV.

“The kid is electric and I want to see that, I want to see Elijah Taylor play, with Craig Kopczak and Matty Wildie playing dazzling rugby.

"I’m pretty old school and like the defensive side but we are producing an on-field product that we now have to match off the field.”

Ford says that re-engaging with the community is integral to the board’s plans to re-energise rugby league in Oldham.

“We are forming great relationships again with amateur clubs, we can go to local businesses, schools, but we need to attract new fans,” Ford added.

“This is not my club or Bill Quinn’s club this is our club, the fans’ club.

"We had great support at Hunslet and I would think we doubled their attendance.

"There was chanting and singing that I had not heard for a long time.

"If all our core supporters who go home and away could bring one more person, then it won’t be long before we open the Rochdale Road end at Boundary Park.

“But we need your help, we are stronger together, and I’m curious - are we going to get back to crowds of 8,000 or 9,000?

"The opportunity this town has got collectively to fill this stadium is huge.”

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