Profile

Thomas (Tosh) Holliday came to Oldham from the Aspatria Rugby Union club in Cumberland. In the fifteen-a-side code he was regarded as one of the most reliable threequarters or full backs in the game, winning Cumberland county honours and two full England caps, both in the full back position.

His Oldham debut was against Leeds in the opening match of the 1926-27 campaign. In this match he played at centre and would remain there, with an odd appearance at full back and on the wing, for the first half of the season. By the time of the Challenge Cup matches he was appearing more regularly on the flank and managed to retain his place for the final against Swinton and with it secure himself a place in the R.L. history books. Tom established lasting fame by scoring a hat trick of tries in the 26 – 7 defeat of the Lions. It aws an achievement that would not occur again until Robbie Paul’s superb effort for Bradford Bulls 69 years later. The second of Tom’s touchdowns came after a fabulous touchline dash from inside his own half of the field.

Tom played just two more seasons for Oldham but left with his name indelibly written in the history of the club.