Super League star honoured by Mayor

STAR attraction . . . Kevin Sinfield with Failsworth pupils and the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor Richard Knowles and his wife, Valerie

Kevin meets young players of the future
RUGBY league star Kevin Sinfield met young players who are hoping to get their hands on a piece of silverware he never managed to win.

The England international and former Saddleworth School pupil captained Leeds Rhinos to victory in this year’s Super League Grand Final. He is one of the most decorated players in the game and his achievements were honoured at a Civic Centre reception.

The event included a question and answer session with pupils from Failsworth Sports College who have made it though to the North-West region quarter-final of the Carnegie Champions Schools Trophy.

“We played in it and lost in a couple of semis,” revealed Kevin, who originally played football at school.

His rugby career started when his older brother took him along to Waterhead ARLFC, which was looking for young players, and Kevin recalled: “I remember my first training session, my brother leading me to play with the under 10s. I cried my eyes out, I had no friends, I didn’t know anybody.”

Despite the shaky start, Kevin went on to sign for Leeds in August, 1997, making his first team debut at 16.

He holds a Super League record of scoring in 52 consecutive games and is the only man to captain five championship-winning teams. In 2007 he because the first Leeds player to score in every round of a Super League season — repeating the feat this year. But he has also been beaten in two finals this year, against Wigan in the Challenge Cup and Australia in the Four Nations.

He said: “It is not a nice feeling, just disappointing and frustrating. I am still a bit disappointed now but it is part of sport.”

The civic reception was hosted by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Richards Knowles, who said: “Over the last decade the Leeds Rhinos have consistently been one of the best club sides in rugby league and Kevin has played a starring role.

“He is the latest in a long line of players who grew up in the borough, such as Barrie McDermott, Mike Ford and Paul Sculthorpe, who have acted as great ambassadors for the game and the borough, not just nationally but internationally.

“We are honoured Kevin has accepted our invitation to the Mayor’s Parlour so some of our stars of the future can ask him about his success.”

Failsworth pupil Lewis North, who also plays for Waterhead, was among the youngsters who met Kevin.

The 13-year-old said: “It’s exciting to get out of school and do something different. He’s a good player, a team-man — he’s inspiring.”

Kevin said it was an honour to be invited to the reception and added: “I am a proud Oldhamer. I still live in the town, I know my roots are important to me.”

He still keeps in touch with Waterhead, training there in the off-season, and added: “I want all Oldham teams to do well whether it’s rugby or football. It can only be good for the town if sporting teams are playing well.”