Chaddy Park book place at Wembley

CHADDERTON Park Sports Club is in line for a national award in recognition of its devotion to grassroots football.

The club has already won the North-West FA’s Charter Standard Community Club category in the 2014 FA Community Awards and will now compete against clubs from across the country for the main prize.

For five years, The FA and McDonald’s Community Awards have been recognising the hard work of unsung local heroes who devote their time and effort to grassroots football in the community, championing the achievements of volunteers, clubs and leagues across England.

Formed in 1979, Chadderton Park Sports Club was one of the first to enrol in the FA’s Charter Standard scheme, which aims to raise the standard of grassroots football across the country.

The club has 125 qualified coaches and also runs a free summer school for young people to train and learn new football skills.

The club, which has raised more than £10,000 for charity over the last year, also has a vibrant veterans’ team.

The national awards ceremony will take place at Wembley on Sunday, August 10, with 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst as a special guest.

Sir Geoff, McDonald’s director of football, said: “Clubs like Chadderton Park Sports Club guarantee the future prosperity of the sport by cultivating a young player’s love of the game and ensuring that aspiring footballers have an opportunity to enjoy football at grassroots level.”