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Chris on way to top

Carl Marsden
20/ 2/2008

ROUGHYEDS’ chief executive Chris Hamilton is celebrating news of his election to one of the top jobs in the sport.

Mr Hamilton, former club chairman and founder of the revived Oldham club in 1997, has been chosen as the new vice-president of the Rugby Football League (RFL) by his peers at the organisation’s annual meeting.

He will operate in the role for the next 17 months before then succeeding the current president, Kevin Nicholas, chairman of Batley, in July 2009.

The 45-year-old has spent the past decade on the RFL Council and his appointment is thought to be the first time an Oldham official has held such high office.

The role is chiefly ambassadorial but is recognition to the unstinting work he has put in to keep his club alive over the past decade.

Accepting the honour, Mr Hamilton paid tribute to his partner, Gillian, fellow director, Sean Whitehead, and the vast array of local people who have backed his efforts.

"A lot of sacrifices have had to be made over those years just to make sure we had a rugby league club and I will forever be grateful to those people who have stuck with us through thick and thin," he said.

"From a personal point of view it is obviously very nice to be recognised in this way and to know that I have the support of people within a sport that I love.

"I have only to look back at the contributions of people who have held similar roles at RFL level to know I have much to live up to. That puts it very much into perspective for me.

"But my appointment is more about our club than anything else. It is an honour for Oldham RLFC (1997) Ltd and recognition for all the many battles that we – board, players, fans, coaches, staff – have won both on and off the field over the past decade."

Mr Hamilton originally founded the Oldham club with three other directors in autumn 1997 following the demise and liquidation of Oldham Bears.

In 2005/6 he led the Roughyeds’ fight against extinction as it faced an Inland Revenue winding-up order and debts totalling £250,000.

Since Bill Quinn become the club’s majority shareholder in March 2007, he stepped down as chairman to become the full time chief executive but still plays a leading role.

ROUGHYEDS’ fans are reminded that they will be able to meet their favourite players and get their autographs when the club stages a ‘meet-the-fans’ session in the Spindles Town Square shopping centre on Saturday, between noon and 2pm.