MOORSIDE’S MICHAEL Weston was one of a band of winners at the one future Oldham Sports Awards which included football greats Paul Scholes and Les Chapman.
The 19-year-old, the goalkeeper for the England and Great Britain amputee football team, was named disabled sports achiever of the year.
Michael has no left arm from the elbow down, a disability he has been born with.
That hasn’t stopped him from achieving great things in amputee football where he has already represented his country in World Cups in the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Michael is studying for a degree in sports science at Hopwood Hall and his father Richard said he was surprised and elated to win the award.
Pete Wild, the Denshaw-based manager of the GB amputee football team, was named coach of the year at the 2013 awards.
There was a sporting achievement award for Grasscroft’s Scholes who was unable to attend the awards at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The presentation had earlier been made by Kevin Sinfield, the Grotton based England and Great Britain Rugby League captain.
He was honoured for an illustrious career in which he played 718 times for Manchester United and a further 66 games for England winning 11 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.
Scholes said: “It is great that the sporting community has recognised me in this way. I have not had many individual ones.
“Oldham is a big part of my life and my family life. The town has been great to me.”
Chapman, a resident of Delph for the last 32 years, became the third Saddleworth success story as he collected an award in recognition of his service to sport.
In a glittering playing career, Chapman played 749 league games which included two spells at Oldham Athletic.
He later managed Stockport County and Preston and was reserve-team manager at Manchester City where he was kit man for the last 17 years until retiring at the end of the 2013/14 season.
Chapman, who is to continue at City working for the media department three days a week, admitted the award was a total surprise.
There were also further Saddleworth nominees for awards: Hodge Clough teacher Nicola Smith was up for the contribution to school sport, Friarmere Cricket Club’s John Morris for unsung hero/ special recognition for 60-years’s voluntary service; Greenfield’s Kara Partington for volunteer of the year for her work at Uppermill FC Juniors, Lees’ Debbie Hallas for coach of the year at Oldham Netball Club and Joe Bemrose for the physical activity award as the 64-year-old plays five-a-side football twice a week including at Saddleworth Pool and Leisure Centre.
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