Chadderton left in the dark

Local non-league football

THE lights have gone out on floodlit games at Chadderton Football Club for the foreseeable future.

A problem with the floodlights, which surfaced at training last week, put four of the eight pylons out of action.

And when club officials managed to get the power back on they found many of the bulbs had blown.

It is another problem for the cash-strapped Broadway club, one which will cost a sizeable sum to put right. And in their present plight, due to their well-documented problems, it is money they don’t have.

Chadderton are hoping to raise the funds, but are also asking for help from local businesses.

Manager Paul Buckley said: “Apart from buying the bulbs, which are expensive, we will need a cherry-picker platform lift to install them.

“If there is anybody who could let us borrow one, perhaps at weekend when they don’t need it, that would be a massive help to us.”

Vodkat North West Counties League officials are sympathetic to Chadderton’s plight and have given them permission to kick off home matches at 2pm until they can fix their floodlights.

n THE management style of Oldham Town’s Tony Mills is unconventional to say the least.

While it may be far from the norm, it is certainly effective as Town remain one of the teams challenging for promotion to the premier division of the Vodkat North West Counties League.

Mills, who is in his fifth season as Town manager, has revealed how on one occasion he got his message across to his players.

When the players return from their pre-match warm-up they find Lucozade drinks, chocolate bars, fruit and Jaffa cakes on a table in the changing rooms.

On one particular occasion the team was on a bad run and they returned to find a jug of water and cabbage on the table.

Mills said: “The players were bemused. I picked up the cabbage and told them I might as well talk to it.

“I booted the cabbage into the air and it fell to bits - and the look on the faces of the players told them I wasn’t happy.”


OLDHAM TOWN’S success is even more laudable given the fact they are in a minority of clubs that don’t pay their players who, indeed, have to stump up weekly subs.

It is therefore a fact of life that players are going to be tempted away by the lure of money.

Three of the players who helped Curzon Ashton reach the second round of the FA Cup - Dave Carnell, James Ogoo and Matty Russell - are former Town players.

Tunji Moses, son of former Manchester United player Remi, moved on to Salford City and is currently at FC United while Paul Taylor left to play for Blue Square Premier club Altrincham.

Town’s First Division Trophy, second round tie at Ashton Town, postponed through a waterlogged pitch on Saturday, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 9.


MOSSLEY have lost striker Matty Berkeley who has decided to move on after only four appearances for the Lilywhites.

The 21-year-old St Kitts and Nevis international has returned to the Blue Square North by signing for Hyde United.