£559,000 upgrade for Chadderton pitches

Sport in Oldham has been given a £559,000 boost - to breathe new life into Crossley playing fields, Chadderton.

The money will improve drainage on the five pitches and refurbish changing rooms. Initial work should be completed by late September.

Crossley playing fields is a popular site for football teams of all ages but drainage problems have left them under-used for several years.

A successful bid to the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity, has resulted in a grant of just over £300,000. The council secured another £250,000 from developers of local housing.

Councillor Graham Shuttleworth, chairman of Chadderton District Executive, said: “The work will make a vast improvement to the site.”