New clubhouse named after Saddleworth Rangers legend

Saddleworth Rangers’ brand new £300,000 clubhouse is to be named in honour of Terry Flanagan, one of the club’s most successful products.

terry flanagan headshot
Terry Flanagan

Grasscroft-based Terry started his rugby career aged 15 with the Shaw Hall Bank Road club as part of their cup-winning youth side.

He went onto become their most capped international in the professional game, representing his country at every level and making four appearances for Great Britain, touring Australia in 1984.

Back at Rangers, Terry has coached junior teams and led tours to Australia, Dubai and Norway.

He also served for a number of years as Chairman and he still remains heavily involved as Club President, organising the annual Burns Night Dinner among other fundraising events.

In the wider sport he was proud to set up the Rugby League Cares charity which supports former players and was commended in 2015.

Terry said: “It’s a real honour to have the clubhouse named after me and I am so proud of my association with the club since arriving as a 15-year-old in 1975.

“In recent years I have enjoyed bringing great business people to the special place that is Rangers and I was delighted when one of my dear friends Bill Holroyd wanted to help with the club development.

outside clubhouse
Work on the outside of the clubhouse

“There is a special bond among folks at Rangers. We’ve always been a club that strives to do the right things by players and lovers of the game and long may that continue.”

The new clubhouse will first be open to the public on Saturday, March 11 when Rangers play their first home game of 2017 National Conference League, division two against Oulton Raiders, kick off 2.30pm.

The day of celebration will include also include junior curtain raisers, a Masters v U18s match and live entertainment before then open age match.

With an extensive rebuild and refurbishment over the last six months, there has been a complete transformation of the clubhouse, which served Rangers for more than 40 years.

The new clubhouse boasts two changing rooms, new toilets, a function room, a kitchen with bar, an office, and outside flagged area.

And the walls will be decked with an extensive collection of pictures, shirts and other memorabilia from Rangers over the years.

Many local businesses and donated money and labour to the project to help to turn it into a reality, and they were thanked at a special dinner early in March.

 

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