SADDLEWORTH RANGERS fans young and old, far and wide can be part of the club’s history by buying a brick with their name on to go in a wall in the new clubhouse.
For one couple, it means they can be part of the exciting project as well as leave a permanent reminder of their relative who is a key figure in Rangers’ past.
Ronnie and Lillian Wilde have purchased four bricks for the wall and one will bear the name of Lillian’s brother Vinnie Beddows, a committee member during the 1960s.
Personal assistant to Oldham-based contractor George Dew, Vinnie was instrumental in getting his boss involved with the club and convincing him to do up the ground and its drainage.
They secured the first clubhouse – transporting an old RAF camp building from Cheshire and building it with committee and club members – which is still standing and will be developed in the new clubhouse plans.
Lillian said: “I was very proud of my brother and what he did with the club. He put in a lot of time and hard work and loved doing it. He was always telling us about it.
“We read about the brick scheme in the Saddleworth Independent and straight away I said I am getting this for Vinnie as he would have loved that. He passed away 22 years ago.”
Ronnie, former chairman at Uppermill football club, added: “We thought it was a lovely idea so we’ve bought a brick each, one for Vinnie and one for his daughter Katherine too.”
The ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme was the idea of former chairman Terry Flanagan and will see around 1,000 bricks sold for £10 each to make up a wall of recognition.
Club chairman Shane Wilson, who is heading up the project, said: “There is going to be a wall of recognition in the new clubhouse to recognise everybody who has helped us achieve our goal.”
A planning application for a new £200,000 clubhouse includes expanding the social area and kitchen as well as adding a pitched roof.
Anyone wishing to ‘Buy a Brick’ should contact Saddleworth Rangers secretary Peter Townsend on 07802 908412 to pledge their name and make their donation.
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