Pupils handed a sporting chance

FORMER England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis with Latics players (centre) James Wilson and Joseph Mills and pupils (from left) Tom Hidderley, Jasmine Raza, Rachel Brooks, Chloe Taylor, Kevin Kociu, Ashar Zeer, Callum Armer and Ali Raza

FORMER England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis visited Hathershaw College to help inspire pupils to get active.

But it wasn’t all about football: 19 local clubs covering everything from athletics and rugby to dance and boxing attended the Bellfield Avenue school’s annual sports fair.

The aim was to encourage pupils to take as much exercise and play as much sport as they can, not just at school but outside it too.

The event was open to Hathershaw pupils and those from local primary schools - and ended with 175 children joining a sports club.

Opening the event, Rachel told pupils she had “never looked back” after joining her local football club at the age of seven. She went on to make her England debut when she was 16, played in two world cups, earned 82 caps and played at the 2012 Olympics for Great Britain.

She also won the FA Women’s Cup with Everton Ladies in 2012 before injury forced her retirement in 2015.

Oldham Athletic players James Wilson and Joseph Mills also attended along with Oldham Rugby League player Michael Ward, who brought along the league leaders shield and the league one promotion final trophy won by the club last year.