Skills on show in freestyle football feast

HEADS up . . . Freestyler Craig Gorey balances the ball

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BUDDING footballers showed off their tricks in a competition designed to bring youngsters together.

Oldham Athletic’s Community Trust hosted a borough-wide “3vfree” tournament ahead of Latics’ game against Hartlepool last Friday.

The tournament is a three-a-side football competition which focuses on skilful football, with players awarded extra points for nutmegs and trick goals.

It featured teams from different areas where the initiative has taken place over the summer, including Chadderton, Coldhurst, Fitton Hill, Royton, St Mary’s and Werneth.

They also had the chance to learn freestyle football skills, with overall winners of a freestyle competition getting the chance to perform on the Boundary Park pitch at half-time on Friday.

The sessions were aimed at 11-18-year-olds to provide a positive, constructive environment for them to enjoy while keeping physically active and developing new skills.

Trust Inclusion and Kickz co-ordinator James Mwale said: “All the young people, coaches and partner organisations have worked hard over the summer to make this initiative a success.

“This is the first time we have brought together all our inclusion projects into a borough-wide competition.

“It’s important that we encourage such events as it develops community cohesion and enables participants to meet people from different areas.”

The scheme is funded and organised in partnership with the Football Foundation, Oldham Council, Manchester Methodist Housing Association, Guinness Northern Counties Housing Association, Challenge and Support, Tudor Street Community Sports Group, Sports Unlimited, Oldham Integrated Youth Services, Oldham Community Leisure, NDC, Honeywell Centre, Groundwork and Villages Housing.

The initiative will now be developed further across Oldham.