JACK Johnson is ready to live the dream of playing at Boundary Park, only with a different shaped ball than he imagined when he was younger.
The Audenshaw-raised rugby league star is at Oldham RLFC after finding himself caught up in uncertainty at Newcastle Thunder, which saw them relegated from the Championship and withdraw from League One after their owner pulled the plug, only for them to reform and re-enter.
He gets his first chance to sample life in his new surroundings when the Roughyeds face Halifax Panthers in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup on Sunday, January 28.
And after attending Audenshaw School and playing his junior rugby at Saddleworth Rangers, the excitement of stepping out at the stadium is high.
Even if it is in a different sport than he first envisaged.
Johnson said: “It’s really good to be back close to home. It feels like I’ve gone full circle a bit as I started playing my rugby around Oldham.
“But when I was younger, it was probably more Oldham Athletic who I would’ve played for. I was never too interested in rugby!
“However, I’m glad the opportunity’s come up and I’ve managed to get here to be part of something that could be special.
“And what’s happening around the club is good and exciting for everyone. It’s a good time for rugby league in the area – the ground’s better than some in Super League. We’ve everything here we need to push on.
“When I speak to people from around there, teams around the town are doing well. Hopefully, once we get into it, there’s no reason why it won’t continue to grow.
“If we can do our bit, the fans who seem to be back on board can do theirs. There’s an opportunity for the sport to grow in the area.
“When I signed, my family was excited as it was a long old trek for them to go and watch me in Newcastle.
“But being local now is much better. It’s worked out really well as I’ve got a job in Manchester and when we train on Tuesday and Thursday, I manage to get home and see everyone.
“Nothing has changed about Audenshaw. I’m not sure it ever will. That’s probably it, done!”
Johnson – who lives in the Standish area of Wigan, where his girlfriend hails from – knows all too well the journey across Greater Manchester can be arduous.
However, traffic is nothing when you think the 24-year-old was trekking to and from the north east during what proved a fateful season.
Johnson told The Correspondent: “When I first joined Newcastle I travelled up there, then when that club went full-time, I moved up there, but then last year I travelled again.
“And last year was awkward as a player. When we went from full to part-time, it was a tough off season in terms of knowing what we were doing.
“It was a difficult year. It was uncertain but a lot of people at the club were taken by surprise by the news they were withdrawing.”