Numbers add up as cup proves a hit

MAKE IT YOURS . . . a 50-50 ball during the Moorside versus Bolton County game in the Junior Soccer League tournament at Chapel Road 3G pitch. PICTURE by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

FOOTBALL: THE sun shone down on 72 teams battling it out in the Junior Soccer League’s Curtain-raiser Cup at Chapel Road playing fields.

Oldham’s Kevin Dunkerley, who established the league last summer, has developed it into a four-a-side format.

And ahead of the return of league action on June 4, he organised the cup as a taster for those who had not experienced four-a-side action.

Kevin said: “The cup competition could not have gone better.

“Each club submitted two sides based on ability — I don’t like saying ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams but I

suppose that is what they essentially were.

“Four-a-side gives players more time on the ball and the matches usually bring more goals than other formats.

“A lot of children went away as big fans of this kind of football.”