Oldham RLFC Heritage Trust
Outstanding Contribution
Honouring people whose work has made a lasting difference to Oldham Rugby League and its supporters.
This category of the Hall of Fame recognises the people and groups who have helped shape and sustain the club beyond the playing field.
Explore the players’ Hall of FameInducted October 2025
Roger Halstead
Reporter, club president and lifelong Roughyeds supporter
Roger Halstead covered Oldham Rugby League for the Oldham Chronicle for more than four decades. His first game as the paper’s official club reporter was the Challenge Cup semi-final second replay against Hull Kingston Rovers on 20 April 1964. He had already filled in for Chronicle reporter Ken Ashton at Oldham matches from at least March 1963.
After retiring from the newspaper role in 2005, Roger continued to write for the matchday programme and to support the club in other ways, including years of lottery collections. He became club president in 2022, and his Roger’s Round Up continues his reporting on the Roughyeds.
His more than sixty years around the club have made him one of its most familiar and valued voices.
Inducted June 2026
Joseph Platt
Oldham official and Northern Union pioneer
Born in Royton in 1862, Joseph Platt joined Oldham’s committee in 1885 and became honorary treasurer in 1887. He was one of the central figures in the 1895 breakaway that formed the Northern Union, the forerunner of Rugby League. At the founding meeting in Huddersfield, he was elected its honorary secretary.
Platt held his roles with Oldham and the Northern Union until 1920. During those years he helped the new game survive financial and wartime challenges, supported the growth of community playing fields, and oversaw major steps in its development, including international tours. In 1911 he arranged for King George V to become the Northern Union’s patron.
He was named to the Rugby Football League’s Roll of Honour in 2020 and joined Oldham’s Outstanding Contribution category in 2026.
Inducted October 2026
Brian Gartland
Coach and one of the great behind-the-scenes figures of Oldham RLFC
There can be no doubt that Brian Gartland is one of the most successful coaches ever to be involved with Oldham RLFC.
Before his involvement with the Roughyeds, Brian had a distinguished career in the local amateur game. In 1962 he captained the first St Annes team to win the Standard Cup. Three years later, in 1965, he won the Ben Powell Trophy when ‘Annes’ defeated St Marys to win the trophy for the second time. In 1980 Brian’s son Shaun also won the award while playing for Saddleworth Rangers.
He joined the Oldham coaching staff in the late 1970s and was there to oversee the assembly of the successful colts team. At this time some of the greats of the club were commencing their careers, including Terry Flanagan, Ray Ashton, Mick Worrall, Andy Goodway and Paddy Kirwan.
The team became the “talk of the league” after winning the colts cup and premiership in quick succession in May 1980.
Brian was often on the sidelines but never out of the picture, and was always there to help the players with advice and direction. He was still involved with the club at the start of the ‘Super League’ era when he managed the Academy team, with players such as Paul Deacon and Joe McNicholas.
A record of the honours
Outstanding Contribution roll
Read the names and induction dates directly below.
- 1 Roger Halstead October 17th 2025
- 2 Joseph Platt June 27th 2026
- 3 Brian Gartland October 24th 2026