Latics legend Eyres graces champions!

Rifle Range Royal Blues 6, Oldham United 0

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: FOR years to come, a framed team photograph of the Rifle Range Royal Blues side will be hung with pride in the Chadderton-based pub of the same name, partly because they’ve clinched the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League division two title.

But also because of the presence, in the bottom right-hand corner of that photograph of one David Eyres.

Agreeing to play for Range for one game only, Latics legend Eyres took to the field in the 36th minute, having originally been named as one of five substitutes.

Eyres' appearance at Clayton playing fields meant that he became the first member of the football and coaching staff from Oldham Athletic since Joe Royle and Ian Liversedge - they played for Old Bull's Head in 1985 - to appear in the Oldham Sunday League.

And Eyres played his part in an emphatic victory with an absolutely stunning strike to give Range a 3-0 lead at the interval.

His first attempt at goal soon after replacing Leo Almeeda was a 20-yard drive that flew wildly over the bar.

But a free kick awarded by referee Mark Roberts on the right hand edge of the United penalty area on the stroke of half time allowed Eyres the opportunity to show that he had found his range.

With a minimal run-up, Eyres struck the ball with such ferocity it had the 100-plus strong crowd gasping in awe at its execution.

It was a trademark goal and the popular Eyres showed just as much delight when the ball hit the back of the net as he did when scoring with similar efforts back in his Latics days.

Eyres said: "I was surprised that I was given the chance to take the free-kick but I just hit it like I know I can."

Range had led from the fourth minute when the impressive Junior Noicely tapped home a Daniel Knagg cross in a match they had to win to secure the title.

And it was Noicely again on target at the midway point of the first period with a powerful header from Patrick Harwood's flag kick.

Second half efforts from Sam Leigh, Dave Ashworth and a Noicely penalty gave the scoreline its convincing look, but United's contribution throughout the 90 minutes had many wondering why they are in bottom spot. Range could even afford the luxury of allowing goalkeeper Chris Jeffries to try his hand with an 85th minute spot-kick but he showed just why he is a goalkeeper by firing the ball over the crossbar.

Eyres made the Rifle Range connection when a long- standing Athletic fan, Tony Feeley, arranged an 'Evening With' event at the pub some months ago.

Eyres added: "Four or five beers into that evening and I agreed to a request to play for the club, but it's great to put a little back because these guys gave me support for six years at Boundary Park."

On the subject of facilities - or rather the lack of them - at Clayton playing fields, legend Eyres said: "Maybe the council should sort something out and put something back for the people who use them."

But, at the high point of a long season, the last word goes to Range manager Andy Livesey, who was full of praise for his dedicated stars.

He said: "The players have deserved all the success they've had and with this side I really think we can now go all the way to the premier division."

I, for one, wouldn't bet against that.

RIFLE RANGE ROYAL BLUES: Jeffries, Harwood, Mellor, Ashworth, Proctor, Greaves, Massey, Oakes, Almeeda, Knagg, Noicely. Subs: Eyres, Quick, Kershaw, Leigh, Schofield.

OLDHAM UNITED: Hadfield, Noor, Jasper, Miah, Usman, Arnold, R Ali, B Bonda, C Bonda, Sher, Nelson. Sub: M Ali.

Referee: M Roberts.