League helps to bring communities together

FOOTBALL: THE Midas Plumbing Oldham Sunday League is playing its part in integrating different communities within the borough.

This season a record number of clubs from Asian backgrounds - six - have joined the competition, which pleases league vice-chairman Steve Diggle.

He said: “I think it’s fantastic. Oldham is very much a multi-cultural town and the league is very much a multi-cultural league. We don’t do anything specifically to attract teams from Asian backgrounds and it would be nice to get even more.

Westwood FC and Coppice United are the two longest-serving ethnic minority clubs in the league, with more than 17 years’ experience of Sunday league football in Oldham.

Nurul Hoque, manager and secretary of Martin Buckley Division Two outfit Westwood, believes his club have paved the way for other clubs.

He said: “I think the fact we are now an established club has influenced new teams to participate.

“To keep going and avoid folding is a success in itself. We all know that Oldham has been a segregated town, but football and the Oldham Sunday League encourages diversity and helps in bringing communities together.”