Oldham Athletic player Hallam Hope is said to have been seriously injured following a ‘vicious assault’ outside the club’s stadium on Saturday 3 September.
Confirming the news in a statement posted on Monday, the club detailed that the 28-year-old footballer was attacked in the car park outside their Boundary Park stadium.
Hope, an attacking midfielder for the Latics, played the full 90 minutes in their 2-0 defeat to Chesterfield FC this weekend, before being targeted as he was leaving the premises.
The born and bred Manc is said to have ‘sustained serious injuries which required hospital treatment’ and is now expected to be ‘out of action for some weeks.’
Credit: Hallam Hope Instagram/Twitter – Hope’s Instagram story and representing Barbados
He updated and thanked fans with a message posted to his Instagram story, writing: “Appreciate all the messages, minor setbacks, major comebacks.”
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Hope joined Everton’s youth academy back in 2005 following a trial at Manchester City and played for the Toffees for two years at senior level.
He then went on to enjoy spells at Bury, Sheffield Wednesday, Carlisle and Swindon Town before joining Oldham in 2021. Despite representing England as a youth player, he ultimately declared for the Barbados national team in 2018 after qualifying through his father’s heritage.
Oldham fans and the club were obviously devastated to hear about his ‘dreadful experience’, with many adding that it couldn’t have come at a worse time as the creative outlet had gotten off to a great start to this year’s campaign.
Netting three goals in seven appearances already, many Twitter users stated that ‘he’s been our best player this season’ and that they ‘hope they find the scumbags’ responsible.
After last season I can’t believe I’m saying this but gutted Hallam Hope is out. Has worked his socks off this season. #oafc
Oldham AFC confirmed that the matter has been reported to the police and CCTV footage has been handed over in relation to the incident. That being said, they said they will refrain from making further comments while the investigation is still in process.
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They concluded their statement by reassuring “the club is supporting Hallam and will continue to do so. We wish him a speedy recovery from a dreadful experience.”
Get better soon, Hallam.
Featured Image — Oldham AFC
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‘Seriously injured’ man rescued from reservoir dam at popular Bolton country park
Emily Sergeant
A significant emergency service response descended on a popular country park in Bolton early yesterday evening.
After reports of a person in the water at Jumbles Reservoir, in the Bromley Cross / Bradshaw area of Bolton, came in just before 6:30pm yesterday (Monday 18 May), teams from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Lancashire Constabulary, and Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service all attended the scene in droves.
Specialist support was also provided from NWAS’s Hazardous Area Response Team, North West Air Ambulance, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, National Police Air Service, and United Utilities – which looks after the reservoir.
It was also confirmed that a HM Coastguard helicopter was requested to attend the scene.
At this time, no formal statement has been made by the police, but Bolton Mountain Rescue Team has taken to social media to update the concerned public on the situation as it unfolds.
Their statement reads: “At 18:28 this evening, the team was contacted by North West Ambulance Service with the report of a person in the water at Jumbles Reservoir, Bolton.
“We worked alongside colleagues from NWAS and their Hazardous Area Response Team, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, North West Air Ambulance, National Police Air Service, Lancashire Constabulary, and United Utilities. A HM Coastguard helicopter was also requested.
“A seriously injured male was rescued from within the overflow structure on the reservoir dam and was conveyed to hospital for further treatment.”
According to reports in the MEN, pictures and videos posted on social media showed rope rescue teams along with water rescue units also in attendance, and the emergency response was seen in the main car park off Bradshaw Road.
Further statements and updates on the situation are expected in due course.
Featured Image – David Dixon (Wikimedia Commons / Geograph)
News
Bury primary school teaching assistant jailed after pleading guilty to child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A teaching assistant from Bury has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences against a ‘vulnerable’ young boy.
Terri Cook, of Masefield Avenue in Radcliffe, appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last week, where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to eight charges of sexual offences.
The sentencing came after officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) began in ‘intense’ investigation into Cook back in September of last year after a member of the public reported seeing her out with a young boy.
The subsequent investigation showed that she had been grooming and manipulating the young boy into engaging in a sexual relationship with her.
Police found numerous messages on Cook’s phone where she had been inciting sexual communications with the boy and holding indecent images of him, and she was also found to have been buying him expensive items, like jewellery and clothing, for a period of more than nine months.
During a powerful statement read out in court, the young boy was described as being ‘extremely kind and caring’, with his mum adding: “Despite experiencing traumatic events earlier in his life, he continued to be positive and compassionate. He smiled every day and made us all laugh.”
Cook was sentenced four-and-a-half years in prison for eight charges of sexual offences.
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Adam Stanfield, from GMP’s Bury CPIU, said: “This case was a horrific example of calculated abuse of power, and Cook targeted a vulnerable child who put his trust in her.
“Grooming is a form of manipulation that can leave lasting emotional and psychological damage, and our priority remains protecting young people and supporting victims as they recover.
“This sentencing also emphasises our unwavering commitment to protecting male victims. They can be victims too and I urge anyone who believes they may have been through anything similar to please report to us.”
Danny Jones -
5th September 2022 
