Gearing up for the cup

GB Amputee Football League at Hathershaw College. Coach Pete Wild and teams

GREAT Britain amputee football team’s head coach Pete Wild had an ideal chance to check out potential future stars when the national league converged on his home town for the first time.

The four teams – Manchester, Lancashire, London and Oxford – gathered at Hathershaw College to compete in the first round of fixtures in the second season of the seven-a-side national league, and it gave Denshaw-based Wild a terrific opportunity to weigh up some options ahead of next year’s eagerly-anticipated World Cup tournament in Mexico.

Wild (29), the recently-crowned Greater Manchester Sports Awards coach of the year, said: “It was terrific to see all the players coming to Oldham for the first time.

“There were some great games played, and there was a good turnout of local people watching the action. They seemed to enjoy it.

“Altogether there were 35 amputees taking part.

“It was a really good day and I was able to take a look at a number of players ahead of the World Cup next year.

“Although we’re not due to fly out to Mexico until next November, I have to name my squad in February to give the players time to try to raise enough sponsorship to actually get them over there.”

Lancashire were the top dogs at Hathershaw as they won two and drew their third fixture.

Current league champions Manchester won one and drew two, as did London, while Oxford lost all their three games.

Wild, who takes up a new, additional coaching role at Athletic next week, will lead the GB amputee team into a home international tournament next summer before the team head off to the World Cup.