A KIND-HEARTED businessman has dug deep to help a Dobcross junior football team enter their first competitive league.
Rob Whetham, from Grasscroft, decided his consulting engineers company Robert Whetham Associates would find the £480 needed for the Random Bananas under eights to take part. 
The team, only launched in January, starts their campaign in the Manchester Respect Junior Football League on September 7 and Rob admitted he is excited to see them compete.
The father of three said: “A business colleague and I wanted to do something in the community and it just happened this chance came along as my son Jack started playing for the Random Bananas.
“It’s good to put something back into the community and make a difference for the kids. It will be nice to see them playing in their first league.
“You go to some football clubs and see parents shouting at their children from the side but at Random Bananas it is more about having fun.
“Mike has made a really good set up and I always enjoying going along to watch.”
The league caters for under 7s to under 10s and its principles include ‘playing to learn, not just to win’, letting all children play equally, and not shouting instructions from the side-lines.
The Random Bananas will don a new strip for the season as the company’s logo will be added alongside Dobcross Village Community, who donated £272.50 for the club’s first kit.
Mike Labrey, a founder of Random Bananas, said: “The football coaching school is going from strength to strength and we have a membership of 30, with six more on the waiting list.
“We’re joining this league because of the six principles they believe in, plus they only play during term time which is much better for children and parents with their hectic schedules.”
Random Bananas also run a Ninos soccer school for four to six year olds, while the Random Bananas veterans’ team competes in the Saddleworth Veterans League.
Robert Whetham Associates, based in Chadderton, was set up ten years ago and offers a personalised and hands-on approach to offer mechanical and engineering design and consultancy services, with an emphasis on creativity, to both public and private sector bodies. For more information visit http://robertwhetham.co.uk
The under 8s train at Saddleworth school on Saturday mornings between 9-10am, with Ninos soccer school running at the same time. Anyone interested in attending or volunteering contact club secretary Matt Cocking on 07771 766691. Visit their website for more information: www.randombananas.co.uk
