Sporting Hall of fame
Reporter: by SIMON SMEDLEY
Date published: 16 July 2014
A PACKED-OUT Queen Elizabeth Hall staged the dazzling onefuture Oldham Sports Awards as 400 excited guests lapped up a terrific night of grass-roots recognition.
It has been another superb and hugely successful 12 months of sport in Oldham, and officials, coaches, athletes and their families and friends came together to celebrate the town’s achievements.
Nine category awards were dished out during the hectic evening, which was expertly MC’d by Chronicle business editor Martyn Torr and featured two high-profile professional sporting stars as guests of honour.
England rugby union international Kyle Eastmond and Lancashire county cricket ace Kyle Hogg were warmly greeted by the appreciative guests, and both were humbled to have been invited to join in the fun.
After a noisy, rousing Brazilian welcome from the Manchester Samba Band, and an enlightening speech from influential former sports minister Richard Caborn, the first award category to be recognised was the Contribution to School Sport.
Unfortunately the winner — Radclyffe School sport co-ordinator Liam Roberts — wasn’t present to receive his gong from Eastmond. Up stepped Steve Tyrrell to accept the award on Liam's behalf.
Footballer Michael Weston won the Disabled Sports Achiever award, before the nod for the Sports Achiever prize went to Commonwealth Games swimmer Jessica Fullalove.
A special Sporting Appreciation award then went to former Manchester United and England football star Paul Scholes.
He was unable to attend the evening, but was seen on the giant video screen receiving his award from Leeds Rhinos and England skipper Kevin Sinfield.
Shaw’s Andy Walker — paralysed from the neck down following a near fatal holiday accident in Thailand — then offered a truly remarkable and often moving motivational speech urging young sporting hopefuls never to give up on their dreams.
Determined fencer Stuart Marshall then won the Coach of the Year, while Jason Wallace won the Volunteer of the Year prize for his unstinting work at the Chadderton Boxing Club.
The Young Volunteer award was next, won by Tom Nokes.
There was then a break as the audience enjoyed a special game of Family Fortunes with the two teams captained by the two Kyle’s — Eastmond and Hogg — before Les Chapman — the former Athletic playing star and Manchester City kit manager of 17 years — almost brought the house down when he was awarded a surprise Recognition of Service to Sport gong.
Even the normally boisterous raconteur Chapman was left near speechless with that prize.
As the memorable evening edged towards a close, the final three awards were presented.
Anna Kennedy won the Physical Activity prize, while Cobra Kan Karate — lead by top coach Gill Leicester — won the Club of the Year award.
Last but certainly not least, John Mellow won the Unsung Hero gong for his unstinting work at Higginshaw Rugby League Club.
And so concluded another magical celebration of Oldham's sporting achievement over the past 12 months.
Here’s to next year.
However, before that a selection of Oldham’s winners will now move on to the Regional Sports Awards evening later in the year at Old Trafford cricket ground.
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