Saturday 19th December will see Oldham Athletic Community Trust run their 2nd 3 v Free borough wide tournament at OCL's Oldham Sports Centre.
3 v Free is a 3 aside skills based game were participants gain extra points for using tricks and scoring fancy goals within matches. Alongside the football players are also encouraged to take part in freestyle football with Latics very own freestylers Craig Gorey and James Hepworth.
This style of football has been developed and delivered in various areas within the borough to engage with young people between the ages of 11 - 18 years during times when they may congregate and not have the opportunity to engage in positive activities. Over the last year the initiative has been delivered in Coldhurst, Chadderton, Fitton Hill, Hollinwood, Lees, Royton and Werneth.
Summer 2009 saw the 1st 3 v Free tournament which was held at Clayton Playing fields. Now the tournament will be brought indoors and will include music, freestyle displays and non-stop 3 v free action from local youngsters from across Oldham.
The 3 v Free scheme is funded and delivered in partnership with the following organisations; Manchester Methodist Housing Association, Guinness Northern Counties Housing Association, Challenge and Support Unit, Tudor Street Community Sports Group, Sports Unlimited, Oldham Integrated Youth Services, Oldham Community Leisure, NDC, Honeywell Centre, Groundwork and Villages Housing.
Oldham Athletic Community Trust Kickz and Inclusion Co-ordinator, James Mwale said:
"The inclusion work we do across the borough has been extremely successful over the past year and this is due to the collective hard work that has been put in by all partners involved."
"Special credit must also go out to all the young people who have been attending sessions throughout the year. On behalf of the Community Trust it has been brilliant to work with so many different young people across the borough and see some massive improvements in attitudes and behaviour."
"Young people need to be given the opportunity to express themselves in positive activities or they will just hang around on the streets and that's why it's important the work we and our partners do continues and develops in the future."
