Oldham R.L.F.C., also known as the Roughyeds, is a professional rugby league football club in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. The club currently competes in the RFL League 1, the third tier of British Rugby League. Formed in 1876 as Oldham Football Club, Oldham are one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. The club became known as Oldham Bears from the 1996 season until financial difficulties led to liquidation in 1997. A new club formed as Oldham R.L.F.C. in time for the 1998 season, maintaining the former club's traditional nickname of the Roughyeds. Roughyed is a nickname for a person from Oldham, derived from the rough felt used in the hatting industry which once employed many people. Oldham played from 1889 to 1997 at Watersheddings in the north east of the town. Oldham's home ground is now Whitebank Stadium in Limeside. However, as Whitebank does not meet the standards for the Championship Division, Oldham have instead used Bower Fold in Stalybridge during those campaigns between 2017 and 2021. The club have also previously used Boundary Park, Hurst Cross and Park Lane, Whitefield prior to Whitebank Stadium. Oldham returned to Bower Fold for the 2020 season. Relegation to League 1 at the conclusion of the 2017 and 2021 Championship seasons saw the club return to Whitebank Stadium. Oldham have won the Championship four times and the Challenge Cup three times. The team's traditional strip consists of red and white hooped jerseys, navy blue shorts and red socks. Traditional local rivals include Rochdale Hornets, Huddersfield Giants, Halifax, Salford Red Devils and Swinton Lions. History Early years In 1876, Oldham Football Club was founded in a meeting at the Prince Albert Hotel, Union Street West, attended by Chairman of the Watch Committee, William Chadwick, Chief Constable Charles Hodgkinson, mill owner Fred Wild, eminent local Quaker and Lord to be Alfred Emmott and three brothers of the Fletcher family. A playing field was organised at Sugar Meadow, Gartside Street adjacent to Glodwick Spinning Mill and changing facilities were provided by the nearby Shakespeare Inn. The club's headquarters were at the Black Swan Hotel, Bottom O'th Moor, Mumps. Their first match at Sugar Meadow was held on 21 October 1876 against Stalybridge. After two seasons they joined Oldham Cricket Club at the new Clarksfield ground before finding a more permanent home in 1889 at Watersheddings. Oldham were