Michelle nets award nomination

Pride in Oldham nominee Michelle Cooper

A FOOTBALLING volunteer and fabulous fundraiser has scored a nomination for this year's Pride in Oldham awards.

Michelle Cooper (51) has dedicated 15 years to Heyside Angels Football Club.

In that time she has been a coach and a committee member.

As well as helping to develop the girls' section of the club, Michelle has coached two junior Angels teams and the ladies team, while simultaneously holding the role of secretary of the North Manchester Girls' League for 12 years.

Not only does she deal with the day-to-day running of the teams and leagues, but she regularly helps raise funds for the teams themselves through a football exchange programme with teams from Holland and organises fundraising football cards. She has also organised a cabaret night in aid of Dr Kershaw's Hospice.

And despite devoting an average of 30 hours a week to football, she also finds time to run a property business with her husband.

Michelle was a nominee for the Unsung Hero category in the Chronicle's Oldham Sports Awards 2016.

But Michelle's sister Lynne Walker felt her hard work and dedication deserved a Pride in Oldham nomination.

Lynne said: "She has raised lots of money for Dr Kershaw's Hospice and cancer charities over the years, and does a really good job working with children at Heyside Angels.

"She is a wonderful person and deserves her place with the other nominees."

Michelle, who is from Oldham but living in Rochdale, said: "I've just about gotten over the shock of being nominated for the sports awards, so I'm stunned to be nominated for this.

"I first got involved in football in 2000 when my daughter started playing and I've been involved ever since. If I didn't love it I wouldn't have stuck with it for so long.

"Ultimately, I love seeing the youngsters play football, they never moan about the weather or anything, and that's what it comes down to. Its all the inspiration I need - if they can do it then so can I."