Alliance Match 2009 Community Shield

Sports 4 All, (SFA) a Rochdale-based multi faith group, together with Rochdale Police, held their third Alliance football match, to continue the progress of community cohesion, on Sunday May 31st 2009. The match was sponsored by Deeplish Community Centre and attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Cabinet Community Cohesion Portfolio holder, Cllr Mohammad Sharif and the local MP Paul Rowen.
Youths from various Mosques represented the effective Muslim community of Rochdale. The Match was played at Springhill football pitch in Rochdale. Former Commander of Rochdale Police, Mr Peter Mason was invited to referee the community event by both sides.

The SFA team got off to an excellent start, with Jabar Khan scoring the opening goal. The police team were then frustrated by an inspired ‘man of the match’ performance from the SFA Goalkeeper, Esrar Ali Khan, but even he could do nothing about a deserved equaliser from Scott McLaughlin. Scott headed in from the corner just minutes before half time.
In the second half, the match was heading for a penalty shoot out when, with 15 minutes to go, the police team were awarded a penalty. John Foster calmly slotted home the penalty. Within two minutes of the restart the police team received another penalty for a handball which John Foster, playing a captain’s role, calmly netted home to make it 3-1.
The SFA team, rather than accept the defeat, rallied and produced a fine goal from Asad Mahmood. With the clock ticking away, the SFA team looked to have worked an equaliser, but the goal was disallowed for off-side. SFA team continued to push up and hit the woodwork twice in the final few minutes. The Rochdale Police team desperately held on to make it three Alliance victories in a row.

Mohammed Malik captained the Sports 4 All team. Mohammed played in the first Alliance Community match and has now joined Greater Manchester Police. Mohammed said, “I joined the police because I wanted to put something back into the community. Today was about continuing to build practical opportunities for the police to get to know the grassroots Asian community, and for the Asian community members to get to know them. We are building important relationships off the pitch.”

Mr Azmat Khan, Rochdale Football Club’s Community officer, managed the youth from the Muslim community. He commented, “Given these players never play together and some met for the first time for quite a while, they did extremely well. I am absolutely delighted with their efforts. For me given this was for a superb cause and, like in previous years, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Councillor Sharif stated, “As the Community Cohesion Portfolio holder, it gives me enormous pleasure to see young people from the Muslim community playing such an influential part in continuing to make this town a shining example/model of cohesion-in-action for others to emulate. We have a lot of exceptional people of all ages within our diverse communities. I feel fortunate to have been involved. We look forward to maintaining the Alliance Shield schedule between Rochdale Police and Sports 4 All.”
The Mayor Cllr Keith Swift commented, “Both teams played extremely well and gave the spectators an enjoyable game to watch. An exciting last few minutes saw the SFA team hit the bar, hit the post, had a goal disallowed for off side and had a shot land on the roof of the net! – Superb efforts by the young men. They looked a bit down hearted at the end, but they shouldn’t be. They did their communities proud.”
He continued, “ The get together afterwards at Deeplish Community Centre was a very welcome opportunity for both teams to have a chat over a good lunch, to discuss the near misses and make plans for next years’ game, which I am sure will be just as exciting. Thank you to the organisers once again for putting on a splendid event that brings these people together.”
Paul Rowen MP added, “The game is an annual event and is a great advertisement for the closer links, both on a professional and informal basis, that have developed between the police and the local communities. I congratulate both the Police and Sports 4 All teams, as well as those at Deeplish Community Centre for continuing to produce events which enable our town to be genuine winners in the field of community cohesion”
Mohammed Nazir, on behalf of Sports 4 All, concluded: “While everyone involved helped make this project a success, we particularly wish to thank four people: – Firstly, the team managers for Rochdale Police division’s football team, Inspector Darrell Butterworth, and Azmat Khan for Sports 4 All. Secondly, former Commander, Peter Mason, for both refereeing the game and then being the M.C. at the after-match reception. Finally, a special warm ‘Thank You’ to match sponsor Deeplish Community Centre. This centre well serves the community of Rochdale. Mr Sohail Ahmed, the Centre’s manager, enthusiastically gave up his day off to ensure everything went well. He arranged so much, with unreserved goodwill, for which we are all exceedingly grateful.”

End of Press Release