Football is a family affair for fanatics

Photo: Vincent Brown

FOOTBALL family: Paul (left), Kathy and Daniel Flanagan.

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: ONCE there was the Swiss Family Robinson, now there's the Football Family Flanagan — Daniel, dad Paul and mum Kathy.

All three are fanatical about the game and dread the summer months when there is little or no football activity.

For now, though, there is plenty of football to keep the Flanagans occupied.

Kathy (42), a Practice Manager at Glodwick Dental Health Practice, has been a steward at Boundary Park for the past 18 years and is a mad keen Athletic fan to boot.

Paul, two years Kathy’s senior, is a social care worker for Oldham Council and has recently made a comeback after a lengthy injury for Shaw Rovers in the D and J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

And Shaw Rovers is the club managed by Paul's son Daniel (24), who is in the first year of a dental apprenticeship at Salford University.

Kathy said: "As a family, we all revolve around each other’s football.

"If we weren't as obsessed with football as we are, we'd drive each other nuts.

"I absolutely love football and the summer months are so boring without it."

As well as her Latics connections, Kathy is also the self-styled 'Jaffa Cake lady' for Shaw Rovers.

Kathy added: "I'm too lazy to cut the oranges for the half-time break so I just take Jaffa Cakes instead.

"It seems to give the players renewed energy and they are currently doing well in the league so I must be doing something right."

Shaw Rovers are managed by Daniel and his cousin, Damion Shaw.

After a disastrous first season in the Ashton Sunday League when Rovers finished bottom of the table with just one win to their credit, the demise of the league meant a change to the Oldham Sunday League for this season.

And things are looking good for Rovers in Division Three, with promotion a distinct possibility.

Daniel, who is a season-ticket holder at Boundary Park, said: "I love running a football team but it is hard work with things like league meetings, laundry and collecting players' subs each week.

"We've got a good set of lads and we are hoping for good things this season.”

Helping in that direction is dad Paul.

He made his first appearance of the season for Rovers in the recent 3-2 win at White Hart, earning himself the man-of-the-match vote in the process.

Daniel added: "In one respect, he helped me in a lot of ways by doing a lot of talking out on the pitch instead of me shouting from the touchline.

Paul, who starred in defence for a host of clubs including Old Bulls Head and Royton Athletic, as well brief stints at Mossley and Chadderton, said: "I was a bit apprehensive as this was my first match after a cartilage operation.

"But in the end there were no problems as they are a great bunch of lads. I suppose I'll be the old fogey at the back who shouts a lot."

Kathy and Paul also have two daughters, 15-year-old Milly and Ella, who is aged nine years.

The parents are still waiting for the first sign of the girls following in their football footsteps.

Kathy said: "For Milly it's netball, while all that Ella wants to do is shop!”