Scholes lauded at Sports Awards

Paul Scholes shows off his Sports Achievement Award.

PAUL Scholes has another accolade to add to his long list after he was honoured at the 2014 Oldham Sports Award.

The Manchester United legend received the ‘Sporting Appreciation’ gong as recognition for a fabulous footballing career which encompassed more than 718 appearances for the Old Trafford club 66 England caps.

Athletic fan Scholes, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Hall, said: “I’m really pleased. It’s great that the sporting community has recognised me in this way and it is always good to win awards. I have not had many individual ones.

“Oldham is a big part of my life and my family life. The town has been great to me.”

Scholes hopes that all he has achieved — 11 Premier League titles with United and two Champions League winners’ medals — spurs others to take up sport.

He also points to Oldhamer Kevin Sinfield MBE, captain of Leeds Rhinos and England, as a shining example.

Scholes said: “It is difficult to get kids playing sport. Everywhere you go these days there are computers and tablets and the like.

“For me and the likes of Kevin Sinfield, hopefully we can inspire young kids to go out and play.

“They can see the success we have had winning trophies and if you look at Kevin, he is a very successful player in his sport and a great leader as well. Hopefully, they can take inspiration from that.”

ALL the winners from the 2014 Oldham Sports Awards will be featured in an eight-special in Wednesday’s Chronicle.