Awards up for grabs

OLDHAM could be celebrating at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards ceremony tonight.

Individuals and clubs will learn their fate at the glittering occasion, staged at the Point, Old Trafford.

The awards recognise the achievements and hard work of individuals and community clubs across Greater Manchester.

Flying the flag for Oldham are Uppermill FC’s Matt Poulter (volunteer), Suzy Chapman (netball coach), swimmer Jessica Lloyd (sports achiever), Moorside cricketer Stefan Holmes (disabled sports achiever); Heyside FC (club of the year) and Steve Grice (unsung hero), who has a long association with Heyside Juniors, first as a player and now as chairman.

The nominees for the six awards have already celebrated winning their category at borough level.

Oldham are up against nominees from Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

Former Great Britain athlete Katharine Merry is tonight’s guest speaker.

Her career highlight came at the 2002 Sydney Olympics when she won bronze in the ‘race of the games’ against gold medalist and Australian star Cathy Freeman.