Reporter: Geoff Garnett
Date published: 16 April 2024

Pictured (left to right) are: Adanze, Feiruz and Adora

The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League has been one of the leading amateur grass roots Saturday afternoon leagues in the region since it was formed 125 years ago.

The league - which features numerous teams from the Oldham area - has always been to the forefront of new initiatives and was a pilot league when the FA introduced its Respect initiative and they have always strongly supported diversity.

Providing match officials on a weekly basis for fixtures is a peril that League Referees Secretaries face.

Lancashire and Cheshire League Referees Secretary, Russell Hoyte, is one such FA official, who weekly volunteers to do such a task.

Russell said: “The Saturday afternoon Amateur Adult League outfit, based across Greater Manchester, is one of the oldest in the country.

“This season, facing the battle of numbers and availability, I have with the support of the Manchester County FA and a new FA diversity initiative, been able to meet this demand.

“The Reflective and Representative campaign aiming to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds over the next three years has aided the League in meeting its commitments to provide officials.

“Under the tutorage of myself the League operates a truly diverse policy.

“Along with a introduction of young officials, we are supporting officials in their development.

“Such development saw an all-female team from a heritage background take charge of a game in the league for the first time in the league’s history.

“The match was a very competitive Wray Cup match at Astley Sports Village in Tameside between Dukinfield Amateurs and FC Babylon.

“Led by Feiruz Abdullah, now in her second season of officiating, partnered by Adora Yau and Adanze Uzidumma, both from the FA's and County FA's newly-introduced Heritage programme, the team produced a great performance which was appreciated by both teams.”