All part of the masterplan

Photo: Chris Sunderland

OLDHAM Hulmeians boss Geoff Howard at a training session.

Amateur football
FOOTBALL: THE new amateur football season can’t come soon enough for one local club.

Geoff Howard is two years into his five-year plan as manager of Oldham Hulmeians in the Lancashire Amateur League - a plan he hopes will take the club into the Manchester League.

Last season Howard (38), a teacher at Newbridge School, and his assistant John Hadfield, oversaw Hulmeians' best season since 2003-4 .

Hulmeians' fortunes have declined steadily since those heady days, but Howard is keen to move the club back in the right direction.

He said: "We need to push on and we are busy looking at one or two players.”

Howard is looking at Gareth Hill, Jordan Schofield, Josh Briddon and brothers Matt and Andy Wheelton to push on next season.

The 86-year-old Hulmeians club still has four teams in the Lancashire Amateur League, all administered by Chris Burnett, currently once again the league's secretary of the year.

The club recently applied for FA Charter Standard status and has ties with AFC Oldham 2005 Ladies and Salem FC, both of whom use the club's Tate Street facilities.


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