Sporting stars line up for the hall of honour

OLDHAM is to honour the local sporting stars who have gone on to fame as national champions or on the international stage.

A sporting hall of honour board is to be installed at Oldham Sports Centre and the names of athletes, footballers, cricketers, rugby players and others who have proudly represented the borough will be engraved on the list for posterity.

The sporting hall of honour board is set to be unveiled on the weekend of July 24-25 when the country holds a nationwide Olympic weekend as the countdown to the London Games of 2112 continues.

“There has, for some time, been a feeling that there should be somewhere in the town that honours our top sportsmen and women and the continued build-up to the Olympic Games will bring sport more and more into focus for everyone,” said Oldham Community Leisure chief executive Ian Kendall.

“The great names that will be listed will receive lasting recognition for their achievements and also act as an inspiration for youngsters to achieve their very best in their chosen sports.”

Now the search is on to play catch-up on names from the start of the 20th century onwards and the Chronicle tonight launches an appeal for nominations.

If you know someone who meets the criteria for qualification then complete the coupon and return to: Oldham Sporting Hall of Honour Nominations, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 172 Union Street, Oldham. OL1 1EQ.

You can send in as many nominations as you like. Nominations to be considered for the first draft of engravings will close on June 18. All nominations will then be scrutinised by the OCLL board and if the person you nominate is confirmed, a draw will be held of all those who put that name forward for a chance to be a VIP guest at the unveiling ceremony on the weekend of July 24-25.

Consideration for additional names for the honours board will thereafter be made annually.




Criteria for election



1, An individual can be considered for nomination to the Sporting Hall of Honour provided he or she has been coached through the coaching structure and organisation in their chosen sport in the Oldham and District area, and excelled at the highest possible levels.

2, An individual has to have been born in the borough, educated or resided in the district (five years minimum) or received at least five years’ tuition of sports coaching in the district’s sports coaching structure and organisation.

3, The statement “highest possible level” shall be taken to mean the very few athletes who reach the pinnacle of excellence in their sport and are generally considered as being the very best, rather than just being a good performer.

4, The level of excellence will differ between sports and as such definition of excellence of the relevant sports governing body (as recognised by the United Kingdom Sports Council and Central Council for Physical Recreation) will normally be used.

5, The candidate should have attained champion status or represented their country of choice at international level.

6, For a nomination to be approved or a change in policy/criteria to take place, the nominations should be approved by the board of OCLL.






NOMINATE YOUR SPORTS HERO!



To nominate a sporting champion, send these details by email to

editorial@oldham-chronicle.co.uk






Name of the person you are nominating



Their sport



Your name and address