Werneth Labour Councillors have successfully bid for a £35,000 grant from Oldham Council’s Local Improvement Fund (LIF) to make the MUGA fit for purpose for football and cricket. Tennis will continue on the neighbouring MUGA. The grant will lever in £105,000 from the Football Foundation funding for Playzones to make a real impact on sports provision for Werneth.

Oldham is a priority area for the Playzone funding, and the investment will improve the surface and fencing of the MUGA.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar said ‘I had noticed for many years that part of the tennis court area was being used to play football and cricket. The LIF funding gave us the opportunity to apply for funds and I’m delighted that we have been successful and hopefully the Football Foundation contribution will complement this and we can convert the area for football and cricket. This will be an all-weather pitch with a new fence designed to cope with football.’

Councillor Fida Hussain added ‘Oldham Council’s Sports Development Service will work with the Football Foundation Playzone Programme to get the work done. This will include consulting the local community to finalise the design and business case which will need to be submitted to the Football Foundation for full assessment and final decision in autumn 2023. This is a real opportunity to get a big improvement for Werneth and give young people somewhere fit for purpose for football and cricket.’