What a relief to get out of those shirts!

OLDHAMERS across the borough put their best feet forward to join the national Sport Relief effort at the weekend.

Evening Chronicle reporters put fund-raising before football loyalty as they donned their “Shirts of Hurt”. Staff pledged to wear the shirt of their most disliked football team!

The Sport Relief Shirt of Hurt was devised by Radio Five Live and has seen footy fans across the country make their worst nightmare a reality for one day.

News editor Mike Attenborough, a dedicated Manchester United fan, pulled on a City shirt while lifelong Latics fan Dawn Marsden risked divorce by donning a United top.

Devoted Hearts fan Karen Doherty donned a dreaded Hibs top while Real Madrid supporter Beatriz Ayala wore the shirt of her team’s rivals Barcelona for the day.

Deputy news editor Janice Barker put all thoughts of her country to one side when she pulled an Argentina shirt over her head.

Dawn, a season ticket holder at Boundary Park, said: “I can honestly say this is the worst day of my life. To have to wear a Man-U shirt for a whole day really is painful.”

Karen — from Edinburgh — who travelled to her home city for Saturday’s derby match at Tynecastle and is secretary of Manchester Hearts Supporters’ Club, added: “I have done a solo parachute jump for charity before, but I can honestly say this was a thousand times harder.”

::Swimmers at Oldham Sports Centre took to the pool to do the Sports Relief Mile in the water while gym-goers completed their mile on the treadmill.

::Energetic youngsters at Oldham Diving Club did their equivalent of a mile by running round the pool and jumping in after each lap.

::Pupils at New Bridge School collected sponsorship for their mile on the astroturf and hundreds descended on the Radclyffe Sports Centre where Latics mascot Chaddy and defender Paul Black gave the starters orders for a three-mile fancy dress run.


So far, this weekend’s Sports Relief has raised more than £29m for disadvantaged people both at home and abroad.