Bower Fold
Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England
Bower Fold, Stalybridge, England — opened 1906, 55 rugby league games hosted, home of Oldham R.L.F.C., groundshare periods 2016-2017, 2020-2021, and 2026-present; primary long-term tenant is Stalybridge Celtic F.C. (football, since 1909).
Sourcing caveat: Floodlight installation date is not confirmed in any source found. Whether the 2002 Challenge Cup fixture was genuinely an Oldham home match, given it predates their known tenancy windows, is not confirmed.
Ground facts
| Opened | 1906 (A ground has existed at this site since 1906; Rugby League Project's own venue metadata agrees.) |
| Home club | Oldham R.L.F.C., groundshare periods 2016-2017, 2020-2021, and 2026-present; primary long-term tenant is Stalybridge Celtic F.C. (football, since 1909) |
| Games hosted (rugby league, on record) | 55 |
| Top recorded crowd | 4,089 |
| Capacity | 6,500 (1,200 seated) — main stand rebuilt 1996 (replacing a 1909 wooden structure), Lord Pendry Stand (652 seats) added 2004, Joe Jackson Stand (Town End) from 1994 |
| Surface | Grass |
| First rugby league match | Oldham 6-40 St Helens (Challenge Cup Round 4), 10 Feb 2002, attendance 4,089 — this predates all three of Oldham's confirmed tenancy windows, so it was likely a neutral or away-ground Challenge Cup tie rather than a true Oldham home fixture; not fully confirmed either way |
| Years used | 2002–2026 |
| Location | Stalybridge, Greater Manchester |
Name history
- Bower Fold — 1906-present, no name change found
Rugby league history
Fundamentally a non-league football ground (home of Stalybridge Celtic) that has intermittently hosted Oldham R.L.F.C. as tenants during periods when Oldham lacked a suitable ground of their own — a lower/mid-tier (Championship-level) rugby league venue with no major RL pedigree of its own. No Test matches, Challenge Cup Finals, or Grand Finals hosted.
Sources
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
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