Demolition of former sport site nears end

Oldham Sports Centre demolition.

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AS you can see from these pictures, the demolition of Oldam's old sports centre is almost complete.

As the place where many Oldhamers learnt to swim or shoot their first basketball hoop, the images will no doubt stir fond memories.

The centre, which closed last November when the £15 million Oldham Leisure Centre opened, is now mostly rubble.

The full demolition is expected to be completed soon but plans for the site have still to be revealed.

Oldham Sports Centre was built next to Oldham Swimming Stadium and cost £1.7 million.

The work took three years and the centre was opened by World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton on April 19, 1985.

The main sports hall was badly damaged by a fire in 1995 caused by a discarded cigarette.

The refurbishment was reopened by then prime minister Tony Blair in April 1997.