Strong Oldham contingent in Paralympics basketball

AS the Great Britain team goes for gold in the Paralympics, which begin tomorrow in Beijing, the bid for wheelchair basketball honours is being spearheaded by a local contingent.

The men’s team, bronze medalists in Athens four years ago, has Oldham Owls player Peter Finbow in their ranks.

And the men’s squad also includes a host of ex-Owls players, Middleton-based Simon Munn, Jon Pollock, Ade Orogbemi, Abdi Jamal and Kevin Hayes.

While there are no local players in the women’s team, the off-court personnel is heavily Oldham orientated.

Coach is Garry Peel, from Shaw, while Mat Foden is an assistant coach and Mat’s sister Emma is the team manager.