Tackled pink!

IN the pink . . . Latics skipper Sean Gregan

Here we glow...Latics change their strip to back cancer unit

PIONEERING Oldham Athletic will become the first team to completely change their home strip to support the fight against cancer — by playing in pink.

A special one-off kit in dazzling neon pink was being unveiled today before being used in a crunch War of the Roses clash before a worldwide TV audience next month.

The one-night only switch from blue to pink will take place when the Sky cameras visit Boundary Park for the key promotion clash with Yorkshire rivals Leeds United on March 2.

Latics are breaking new ground as the first football team to completely change their home strip for a league game to support a charitable cause.

The remarkable new strip is all in aid of the new Victoria Breast Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

The club heard of the unit’s new Link 4 Pink charity, that is aiming to raise £250,000 to improve facilities and help patients, and stepped in to raise awareness and money.

Volunteers will be making a bucket collection at the turnstiles and all shirts, specially created by kit manufacturers Carbrini for the occasion, will be auctioned off after the game on the club’s official website, www.o ldhamathletic.co.uk

Latics chief executive Alan Hardy said: “This initiative is in aid of a fantastic cause and we are delighted to be able to help. We would urge all supporters to get behind us as we look to raise as much money as possible for the breast care team.”

The unit’s consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, Maria Bramley, said: “We are delighted that Oldham Athletic have proposed this exciting and unique venture.

“We would like to sincerely thank them for helping us to realise our dream of extending the Victoria Unit.”

Pink is rarely used in the macho world of sport, but John Sheridan’s boys won’t be the first male team to step out in the traditionally feminine colour. Italian football side Palermo wear pink, while French rugby club Stade Francais have also adopted the shade as a shirt colour.

And Oldham Roughyeds have also played in a one-off pink kit when they played in a televised national league game against Doncaster at Boundary Park last season.