ROARY, Oldham RL Club’s loveable-lion mascot, will again be sponsored this year by the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre.

His work in the community dovetails with that of the town’s well-known shopping centre which will stage a charity awareness day once a month for the remainder of 2019.

In one form or another Spindles Town Square Shopping has been sponsoring Oldham RLFC for several years.

Of the latest agreement, the centre’s manager, Mike Flanagan, said: “We are delighted to get behind Roary, who is well known to us at the centre.

“He is a terrific ambassador for Oldham RLFC and we like his work in the community because we do a lot of that ourselves and we regard it as a very important part of our operation.

“We wish Roary and Oldham RLFC every good wish for the season ahead.”

Club chairman Chris Hamilton added: “We believe Roary is one of the best mascots in our game. Children love him and we know he’ll do a great job when we launch our new members’ club for under-16s.

“We are grateful to Spindles for backing him again. He will be happy to help the centre in any aspect of their community work.”

‘Roary’s Pride’, Oldham RL Club’s new group for under-16s, will be launched at the Vestacare Stadium on March 24 before the game against London Skolars.

Roary will play a lead role in the running of ‘Roary’s Pride’, along with lifelong fan Dave Murgatroyd, who sits on the club’s new management body.

“I’m excited, It’s a great idea,” said Dave, who will work side by side with Roary to get the mascot’s youth club up and running.

Each member will receive a ‘Pride’ pack which will include a Roary’s Pride cap and badge.

Roughyeds will also be working with local schools to extend ‘Pride’ and to encourage youngsters across the borough to get involved.

The club is currently working with pupils from Co-op Academy Failsworth who have been busy designing potential new logos for Roary’s Pride.

The winning design will be available soon.