ONE of the founding fathers of rugby league - from Oldham - is set to be added to the game's roll of honour this weekend.

Joseph Platt, the first honorary secretary of the Northern Union, is being feted by the Rugby Football League for his contribution to the sport when it was in its infancy,

Mayor of Oldham and Roughyeds supporter Cllr Ginny Alexander said "it was her great pleasure and honour" to announce the addition of Platt's name to the 40 others on the celebrated roll.

Cllr Alexander, and her consort and husband, the ex-Oldham and Leigh prop Adrian Alexander, had hoped to accompany Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton when his name is added, at a ceremony in Huddersfield's George Square, near the hotel where the Northern Union was formed, before new virus restrictions came into force.

RFL officials say they wanted to recognise the "immense contribution" made by Platt to the sport's early development.

He was a pivotal figure, having first served as Oldham's honorary treasurer, as lineouts disappeared, the scoring was changed and the 'play-the-ball' came in from 1906, to avoid more scrum restarts.

And Platt was secretary when the first overseas visitors, the New Zealand All Golds, came to Britain in 1907, quickly followed by the Australians the following year.

Rugby league historian Michael Turner noted it was his influence, through the Earl of Derby, which saw King George V agree to become the Northern Union's patron.

Turner summed it up by writing: "Oldham FC and the sport of rugby league will forever be indebted to Joseph Platt, a shrewd administrator, visionary and downright grafter for the 13-a-side game."

Platt stepped down from the Northern Union in March 1921, having been the only founding member still associated with the board, and continued to be a vice-president of Oldham RLFC until his death in September 1930.

His tenure for the Roughyeds saw them lift two of their three Rugby League Championships, in 1909-10 and 1910-11 and the Challenge Cup in 1899.

Away from the game he was also an administrator for the Oldham Empire, which brought the likes of Charlie Chaplin to the town, as part of Fred Karno's travelling troupe.

A blue plaque marks his former offices in Queen Street. Later he also played a key role in the British Playing Fields Association.