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While the cream of Europe’s footballers take a mid-winter break, young
people in Ashton were alive and kicking on Monday evening, during round
two of Wigan Borough’s own version of the Champions League.
Over 100 young people aged from eleven to sixteen, took part in a series
of 5-a-side games organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports
Development Unit at Edmund Arrowsmith High School.
The tournament is currently touring the borough and this particular
event was supported by Wigan Athletic - Football in the Community and
the Ashton and Bryn Township Community Safety Group.
Andrea Pilling, one of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Community
Sports Coaches, said, “It was great to see so many young people involved
and enjoying themselves this evening. Wigan Athletic are regulars here
on a Monday evening and we provide a wide range of sporting activities,
ranging from football to cheerleading, for local children to get
involved in.
“I would also like to thank councillors Wilkes, Merry and Hodgkinson who
are here every week providing the young people with refreshments and
support. It has been a real team effort and we hope that young people
will continue to come along to other activities.”
Monday night’s Champions League tournament brought an end to a two-year
long series of activities in Ashton, funded by the Ashton and Bryn
Township Safety Group.
Vice Chair, Co. Gary Wilkes said, “Sadly, this is the end of a two year
project to address the problem of anti-social behaviour in Ashton and
Bryn. The project has been a huge success thanks to the input from the
Bryn Ward Councillors, Bill Collier, Paul Fenton, Tony Smith, Carole
Bradley, the Sports Development Unit and Friends around Bryn.
“Twenty two young girls took part in a cheerleading session tonight
while the football was taking place. We have had activities like
football, dancing, arts and crafts, face painting, and even media
studies. This is the type of project the community needs to stop
anti-social behaviour on our streets, and give children more positive
things to do in the evenings, we now need to find more funding to carry
on the good work.”
The Wigan Borough Champions League tournament now moves on to Hindley
Leisure Centre on Friday 16th February and then Holgate Primary School
in Orrell on Monday 16th April. A final round will take place at a venue
to be announced in May.
Teams of up to eight players are invited to sign up for either of the
two age categories, 11 and over or 15 and over. All teams must fill in
an entry form, contact John McMullen on 01942 404956 or via
j.mcmullen@wlct.org
for further details.
Multi-sport sessions for young people of all ages take place at Ashton
Leisure Centre every Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm. Sessions will resume on
10th January 2007. For further information contact Andrea Pilling on
01942 404984.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Manager, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
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