News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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23/03/2009 - Andy Backs Midnight League

Leigh MP Andy Burnham has thrown his support behind a scheme designed to give young people something constructive to do on a Friday night.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport laced up his boots on Friday and took his spot as striker in a special police team as part of a football competition designed to offer a diversionary activity for young people in Wigan and Leigh.

More than 250 teenagers have been taking part in regular Friday night sessions of the borough’s Game On Midnight Leagues since they began in January.

Introduced for the first time last year the competition, which culminates in April, provides an opportunity for 12 to 16-year-olds to play five-a-side football every Friday night at either Robin Park Arena, Wigan or Lowton Community Sports College.

Although the MP and the police team failed to score in their four games against teams from Shakerley, Lowton and Westleigh they were left in no doubt about the value of the scheme.

Andy said, “Schemes like this are fantastic in helping to reduce anti-social behaviour. Even if they’re not playing, young people are coming along to support and watch their friends so they are all together in a safe controlled environment.”

“I feel that anti-social behaviour peaked about four to five years ago. We have been slowly bringing it down ever since. There are still going to be little hotspots but we are understanding more and more.

“Back then we didn’t have the tools to do the job but now a mixture of fixed penalties, ASBOs and more activities like this one have to be the answer.”

Although the games are actually played between 8pm and 9.30pm the programme derives its name from Midnight Basketball – an American initiative introduced to curb inner-city crime by giving youngsters an opportunity to become involved in constructive pursuits.

Organiser Craig Anthony from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit said, “This is only the second year we’ve run this competition but we have more than 250 people registered with 200 young people turning up regularly. We think it’s making a real difference getting children off the streets of Wigan and Leigh and into a constructive, safe environment.”

Funded by The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and The Football Foundation, Game On works in former mining communities across the North West, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East to provide football opportunities where there is a general lack of activity.

Whilst aiming to increase the amount of young people playing football in coalfield communities, Game On also aims to use the power of football to develop young people’s awareness of key social issues which affect them and their communities, such as anti-social behaviour, respect and health and well-being.

And the scheme has certainly been well received from the police’s point of view.

PC David Holt of the Leigh Neighbourhood Policing Team said, "It’s been fantastic. They’ve all come over and had a chat and made us feel welcome."

“We are building roads for the future and the number of young people here tonight shows they’d much rather be doing something worthwhile than hanging around on street corners.”