Saddleworth FC gets go-ahead for new pitch at Bishops Park

Saddleworth FC has won approval to turn a neglected patch of Bishops Park into their new home pitch, giving hundreds of local children a proper place to play football. The 30-year lease from Oldham Council will see the club transform a field that's been abandoned since 2019 into a training ground and match venue for their 15 junior teams and academy.

The club's chairperson. Mike Leyland explained the need: 'Football is growing. Every year we get bigger numbers of boys and girls signing up for our teams.

Councillor Josh Charters welcomed the development, noting the area's current problems. 'There are a lot of residents who comment about the state of the area,' he said, adding that he knew the spot attracted littering 'because youngsters go up there to sneak a bottle of vodka.' He believes the club's presence will help deter anti-social behaviour and keep the spot clean.

The pitch will be open for public use when the club isn't training or playing matches, addressing the borough's shortage of sports facilities. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who has worked for years to bring the pitch back into use, said: 'This is a public facility that had simply been abandoned, and left to go wild. It should be being used; we're desperately short of facilities across the borough.