There are some places in Greater Manchester that have become such deep-rooted institutions you often forget how remarkable they truly are.
Take, for example, Tommyfield Market.
This market hall has been part of Oldham, in some shape or form, since way back in the 18th century, when the land was owned by a Thomas Whittaker.
Over the years, it’s bounced back from terrible fires, moved location a few times, and seen hundreds of brilliant local traders come and go.
It’s got a brilliant history – I mean, did you know that Tommyfield Market was home to the first fish and chip shop? – but its present day is quite amazing too.
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There are 107 stalls here, and when we say you can buy just about anything, we mean it.
Credit: The Manc Group
Traders here peddle everything from clothes to jewellery to furniture to retro sweets to handbags to candles, all under one roof.
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This is a place where you can do your full food shop while supporting local businesses, from the meat sold by Bentley’s Butchers and Meat in the Middle to the fruit and veg from Taylors.
You can pick up beautiful soaps from Nuage 9, buy beautiful blooms and homewares from local florist Blooming Dale’s, and even get a new oven or washing machine.
Then there’s the incredible food being sold and cooked here.
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Credit: The Manc Group
You’ll never visit without finding locals huddled round proper mugs of tea at Deelites Cafe, or tucking in to homemade treats at Mum’s Kitchen.
One of the bigger units at Tommyfield Market is occupied by Levers Chippy, serving incredible fish and chips and the sort of gravy that coats every millimetre of your dinner.
The traditional food continues at The Greenroom Cafe, where you can get a meat and potato pie just like the ones your nan used to make – we’re talking the sort of pastry with tiny cracks in the surface, and tonnes of mushy peas on the side.
Local bakery Oskas sells proper, proper oven-bottom muffins for the best sandwich you’ll ever make, as well as pies and cakes.
Levers Fish & Chips at Tommyfield Market. Credit: The Manc Group
Cafe da Preta will transport you straight to Portugal with its menu of traditional dishes, and then there’s Lucknow Junction, where we found – and I kid you not – the best butter chicken of our lives.
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This little Indian gem has curries and snacks galore, as well as traditional breakfasts like stuffed parathas and kathi rolls.
And then when you’re all shopped out, you can kick back with a pint at Cob & Coal, a micro pub with a renowned selection of real ciders as well as ales, German lagers, and – at this time of year – mulled wine.
Tommyfield Markets is a meeting place, a shopping place, and a place for local business to thrive.
You can visit between 9am and 5.15pm, Monday to Saturday.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Oldham
Dorking Wanderers manager’s X-rated rant after being battered by Oldham Athletic is as hilarious as it is honest
Danny Jones
Marc White, manager of National League side Dorking Wanderers FC, has gone viral after his brutally honest and downright hilarious assessment of his team’s performance against Oldham Athletic.
Some top-notch casual cussing, here.
White was speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel after his side’s hefty 5-1 defeat to the Latics on Saturday, 7 January, and didn’t mince his words for one second.
Although David Unsworth’s team put on an impressive display, with striker Karl Mike Fondop Talom bagging a hattrick as the Greater Manchester outfit cruised to victory, the Dorking manager not only praised the opposition but also went fully in on his own players.
Here’s just a taste. Tell us how you really feel, Marc…
The 49-year-old coach and founder of the ever-ascending semi-pro team kicked off the no-nonsense appraisal of his team by breaking down things into the simplest terms possible: “Well, from our perspective, obviously sh*t.”
We appreciate your brevity, Marc.
After making sure to thank the Dorking fans for their “loyalty” and for “getting behind the team”, as well as giving a “big thanks to the Oldham fans for getting piss wet through”, White wasted no time digging into his squad.
He summed up the root cause just as succinctly: “Oldham won 5-1 because we’re sh*t at defending”. Penny for the centre-half’s thoughts right now.
Here’s his rant in full.
We counted at least six references to ‘sh*t’ and or ‘piss’. Just under one a minute.
As you can see, he also had very little time for the referees on the day, insisting that the “officials were so bad it was unbelievable.
“I’ve got to say, honestly, they should pack it in — literally pack in doing what they do”. He really wasn’t letting anyone off the hook.”
He went on to argue that the National League should get rid of what he perceived as an obstructive over-reliance on headsets, describing the refs as appalling and akin to “Domino’s drivers all talking to each other” to the point that the first official “can’t ref his own game anymore”.
While we can only sympathise with the Dorking players who are undoubtedly in for a rough week of training and equally hilarious bollockings, we’re just glad we got to better familiarise ourselves with a straight-talking manager as they’re an increasingly rare commodity these days.
Sitting 16th in the standings, Dorking face Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy on Saturday, 14 January and travel to 21st-placed Gateshead for their next league game next week.
Part-time or not, White and his men will no doubt be hoping to get back to winning ways against two very beatable prospects.
For now, you can watch the full Dorking vs Oldham highlights down below. We’re sure Oldham fans will be happy more than to.
Man charged after elderly woman is sexually assaulted by intruder at Oldham care home
Emily Sergeant
A man has been charged after a care home resident in Oldham was sexually assaulted in the early hours of the morning on New Year’s Day.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that 21-year-old Jake Astley, of no fixed address, has been charged with one count of knowingly trespassing on a premises with intent to commit a sexual offence, one count of committing an offence with the intention of committing a sexual offence, one count of affray, and one count of assault.
It comes after police were called to a report of a serious sexual assault of a resident at a care home in Oldham at 2:40am on New Year’s Day (Sunday 1 January 2023).
Astley was arrested at the scene, and has been remanded in custody.
“This incident will have understandably caused distress to the care home residents and their families, staff and wider community,” Superintendent Philip Hutchinson, of GMP’s Oldham District, said.
“Our thoughts are very much with the victim and her family, who are being supported by specialist officers.
“I would like to reassure the community that this type of incident is very rare and we have been working closely with our partner agencies, including Oldham Council, to ensure the safety and security of the residents and we are working around the clock to make sure the offender faces justice”.
The 21-year-old will next appear at Tameside Magistrates Court today.
GMP is also appealing for information, and is urging anyone who may know anything about this incident to contact police on 101, or report via the GMP website’s reporting tool – www.gmp.police.uk – quoting log number 661 of 01/01/2023.
Daisy Jackson -
3rd January 2023 
