Kick-off for football fun

High Crompton Kicks

SHAW councillors donned their trainers and joined in with the first of a series of football kickarounds at High Crompton Park.

Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT) is running the free Kicks soccer sessions at the park for the next four Tuesdays (August 12,19, 26 and September 2) from 6.30-8.30pm.

The sessions have been funded by councillors Diane Williamson, John Dillon and Dave Murphy to offer the area’s young people an activity during the holidays.

Councillor Murphy, who attended the first session, said: “It was a pleasure to support this initiative and we were pleased that a number of young people who were in the park joined in the games of football, there was some very talented players. We’re really looking forward to the next four sessions.”

The sessions are accompanied by a portable sound system, which was funded by GMP from its Giving Back to the Community scheme.

Martin Vose, OACT participation manager, said: “We can’t thank the local councillors enough for their support of the project. From speaking to some of the young people at the session they really appreciate the project and the fact they have now have something to do. To have 31 young people at the first session shows just how much of a need there is.”

Kicks, a project ran by professional football clubs’ community departments, is growing rapidly in Oldham with more than 200 youngsters involved each week.