Sport

Oldham Owls spread wings in Saddleworth

Tony Bugby November 16, 2014

THE NEWLY formed Oldham Owls Lacrosse Club has roots firmly based in Saddleworth.

sport lacrosse u12s Tournament 2
The under-12’s team

The club, which fields three junior teams, trains at Saddleworth School and eventually hopes to play its matches in the area. It already stages tournaments and boot camps at Churchill Playing Fields.

“Most of our players and club officials are from Saddleworth, we train here and we classify ourselves as a Saddleworth team. The only thing we don’t have is a ground in Saddleworth,” explained their coach.

Indeed, one of the main driving forces behind the new club is chairman Mark Jordon, the Dobcross-based actor better known as PC Phil Bellamy in Heartbeat.

The club has been formed from the embers of Oldham and Werneth Lacrosse Club which has recently undergone a rebranding as Oldham Owls.

The club is looking to build solid foundations with teams at under-12, 14 and 16 level which will hopefully provide the bedrock for future senior sides and continue Oldham’s great tradition of the sport which has been played in the town since 1884.

sport lacrosse u12s CJ Boaler Alfie Boomer and older member and past player Stuart Swift
Past player Stuart Swift, 80, works out with youngsters CJ Boaler and Alfie Boomer

And a young Winston Churchill, who later became Prime Minister, was even a member of Oldham Lacrosse long before he became a renowned statesman. And in its heyday, the club fielded seven teams and produced international players like Steve Green and Nick Watson.

Back to the present and Oldham Owls is looking for its three junior sides – it hopes to have fourth next season – to provide an eventual path to senior lacrosse.

In the longer term, they hope to find a new home ground in Saddleworth and to build a clubhouse while extending to seniors and women’s teams.

Players are invited to give lacrosse a try for free. All equipment and coaching is provided. The times are:

  • U12 – Monday 5pm-6pm
  • U14 – Thursday 5.30pm-6.30pm (from November 6)
  • U16 – Thursday/Friday 5.30pm

Owls are also holding a series of all-day boot camps at Churchill Playing Fields to improve the tactical ability of their players with England international Nick Watson and Adam King, another top player, providing coaching.

Find out more on their website www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldhamlacrosse or find them on Facebook and Twitter.