Getting the right message across

St Josephs pupils with Oldham Athletic officials and players.

ATHLETIC have involved youngsters from St Joseph’s School, Shaw, in order to encourage fair play and good behaviour at Boundary Park.

The children have recorded messages which are to be broadcast on the tannoy before every home match.

Rather than playing the standard message which is sounded at the other 71 Football League grounds, Athletic decided to add a local flavour.

Jamie Blood, from Athletic’s community programme, contacted St Joseph’s, a national charter school of the year, and invited them to become involved.

Pupils from years four, five and six - around 100 children - had to write a message.

And the 15 whose efforts impressed most were invited to Boundary Park, where their words were recorded for broadcast.

The youngsters got the chance to meet Athletic manager Dave Penney and players Reuben Hazell and Deane Smalley.

They will also be invited to a future game so they can listen to their messages being played.

“The children loved it and it was writing for a practical purpose,” explained Steve Hill, deputy head at St Joseph’s.