Clubs over the moon with grants

WE’VE got it! Higginshaw Amateur Rugby League Club is delighted to receive more than £40,000 to improve the building. Pictured at the front are eight-year-olds Regan Kennedy (left) and Joshua Eckersley

TWO Oldham sports clubs are celebrating after landing bumper grants.

Higginshaw Amateur Rugby Club and Oldham Boxing and Personal Development centre are both in the money to help turn dream projects into reality.

Higgingshaw ARC has won £40,835 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund, which will support the expansion of the club’s youth sections and to revamp the building for community groups — the building is also used by Higginshaw Thai Boxing, St Stephen’s Cubs & Scout Group, and the newly-formed Sports for Fun group.

Even the Rev Nick Smeeton was invited to take his Sunday services there after the south wall at neighbouring St Stephen’s Church collapsed last year.

Improvements will include provision of a physio room, new toilets, an extra changing area for officials, more shower facilities, new disabled toilets, a weights room, kit and equipment storage and redecoration.

The club is still looking for sponsorship to make up the likely £63,000 total cost of the project.

Club chairman, Alan Howarth, said: “We are delighted we can upgrade the quality of our premises to match the quality of our rugby coaches.”



OLDHAM Boxing and Personal Development centre will be moving to new premises following its cash boost.
Eric Noi, the former professional super-middleweight boxer who runs the currently Derker-based centre, has worked tirelessly since winning permission in 2011 to move to Victoria House in Greaves Street. Sport England has delivered the £48,562 needed to upgrade the new venue.

Eric said: “We are grateful to Sport England. This allows us to upgrade our equipment to equal the more modern facilities other gyms have to offer. Our aim is to be available for the local community. It’s not just time and money that has been invested in the Victoria House project, but the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the people of Oldham too.”