Life was a hoot at the Owls
Reporter: John Gilder
Date published: 13 November 2009
IT was good to see Austerlands Cricket Club official Peter Sunderland in the Oldham Evening Chronicle last week, writes JOHN GILDER.
Peter, along with Paul Scholes and Kevin Du Feu, have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award for his sterling work at the Saddleworth and District Cricket League outfit.
Let me take you back to the early 1970s when Peter who, like myself is 50 years of age, played for Hollinwood Owls in the Oldham Sunday Junior League.
The Owls were the first club I ever played for in what was a highly respected league for the under-16s in Oldham.
I remember Peter well, along with players like Gordon Singleton, Jeff Sharples, Nigel Kenyon, Paul Longbottom, John Pass, John Cocker and Peter Hickey.
The team was managed by a local schoolteacher Eric Fitzsimmons, who also played semi-professional football in the old Cheshire League.
The players used to meet at Fitzsimmons’ flat in Montgomery House, Hollinwood, at around noon in preparation for the 2pm kick-off.
Other teams around in those days included Roundthorn, who were managed by George Shore, and Chadderton Strikers, who were run by Tony Murray.
Both Roundthorn and Chadderton played on shale pitches.
Happy days, and well done Peter on your Pride in Oldham nomination.
