Goalmouths to fairways for Unsworth

New Brookdale captain Doug Unsworth

DOUG Unsworth swapped a football for a golf ball 30 years ago — and he hasn’t looked back.

Brookdale’s new captain was a regular on the local league scene for Cannon Street Youth Club and Hollinwood Cricket. After hanging up his boots he still wanted to be involved in sport at weekends and a friend suggested golf.

Doug (68) explained: “I remember the first time I played, I just smacked it. The ball was flying everywhere! I thought it was easy. It’s only when you think about it that it gets difficult.

“I’ve played at other clubs, but I’ve always been a member of Brookdale.”

The Oldhamer’s one and only major success on the course was the Sid Jones Cup in the late 1980s, though he has won several mixed competitons.

His charity for the year is Dr Kershaw’s and is hoping to organise a golf day at Brookdale later in the year to raise funds for the hospice.