Profile

Norman Pugh was a tall, rangy, second row or loose forward, who came to the club from Swansea Rugby Union where he won county honours with Glamorgan. He made his first team debut in the 8 – 0 home victory over Wakefield on March 5th, 1934.

A most reliable performer in the back row, Norman, whose tall and lean stature, allied to his rallying call of “Get cracking lads”, saw him nicknamed “The Whip”, would become a cornerstone of the Oldham pack for fourteen years. His consistent displays for the “Roughyeds” earned him eight Welsh caps in Rugby League and on all but one of these occasions he finished on the winning side.

When Rugby League resumed after the Second World War for the 1945-46 season, Oldham, like many other clubs, had its players scattered far and wide, but luckily for the club Norman was available to play in 38 of the 40 matches and when made captain towards the season’s end, provided a steadying influence as the club won seven of its last eight games to climb to a respectable mid table position, after looking destined to finish in the lower reaches.

A benefit match was played for Norman between Oldham and an “International and County Xlll”, selected by Welsh full back legend, Jim Sullivan on April 22nd, 1947. After his retirement at the end of the 1947-48 season, he maintained a keen interest in the club, helping to form the ex-players association. One of the great servants of Oldham RLFC.