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Club's grand gesture

Ruhubia Akbor
4/ 8/2004

OLDHAM Rugby Union Football Club has marked a historic milestone and started its' centenary celebrations last week with a charity ball-carry.

A team of 10 runners, sponsored by club members, friends and businesses, carried the ball signed by the World Cup winning squad on a three day run from Twickenham to their home ground at Manor Park.

The ball was later auctioned for a handsome £1,600 at a special Gala dinner.

The runners were seen off by Jason Leonard, former England and Harlequins prop, and ran via Premiership Rugby clubs collecting other items for auction.

With over 350 people in attendance, the gala dinner took place in a giant on-pitch marquee with the Webb Ellis (World Cup) trophy on display.

Alongside former players from the 1950s onwards, special guests included Malcolm Phillips (England Rugby President), Fran Cotton (England Rugby Chairman), Fergus Slattery (ex-Lions and Ireland forward), Phil Larder and Mike Ford (England and Ireland defensive coaches).

President Paul Heginbotham said: "The dinner was brilliant, as was the run. It couldn't have gone any better. The hard part starts now with the collection of all the money raised. Though we don't have an exact figure yet of how much was raised we have done better than we first anticipated. Last week's events were a resounding success."

A commemorative book charting the club's history will be published later this year.

The club will be holding events throughout the rugby season with all profits going to Dr Kershaw's Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Relief and the Rainbow Millennium Fund (Kirsty's Appeal).