Junior grassroots football club Brierfield Celtic celebrates 50th anniversary

The club celebrated its 50th season in junior football at a get together at Walter Street Club in Brierfield with some special guests.

The present group of committee members and coaches welcomed over 40 managers, coaches, players and partners from the last 50 years.

Club secretary Dave Johnson said: “Guests of honour were co-founder Donald Bailey who is now 88 years old and our first ever manager Dave Marshall.

“Over the last half century Celtic have welcomed more than 1,000 players from age six to 18 from all areas and backgrounds and we are very proud of our inclusion of players from the local Asian community, approximately 20% of our players currently come from that group.”

The club, one of the oldest in the region, has enjoyed many successes over the years including the North West Community Club award in 2003, presented to Mr Johnson by Sir Alex Ferguson at a glittering ceremony in Manchester.

Dave added: “We currently have 10 teams from the Under 7 age group through to Under 16s and due to our recent recruitment drives we also now boast four Under 7 teams this season.

“We’d just like to thank everyone at the club for their support and we look forward to the next 50 years.”

The team, which caters for boys and girls plays its home games at the John Bradley Playing Fields, Marsden Road, Nelson.