Oldham Raises £10K for Family of Community Sports Hero

A small English town is showing the world what community really means after losing one of its brightest lights.

Dale Harris spent years opening doors for young people in Oldham through football and sports programs. When the 31-year-old father of three unexpectedly died on January 12, the community he'd built rallied around his family in extraordinary fashion.

Within days, a crowdfunder launched by Chadderton FC raised over £10,000 to support Harris's partner Georgia and their three children. More than 500 people shared personal stories about how Dale had touched their lives.

"Dale was the kind of person who would do anything for anyone," friends described him. He started as a matchday volunteer at Oldham Athletic and worked his way up to Head of Commercial, proving that passion and dedication can take you anywhere.

The Ripple Effect

Harris's impact stretched far beyond the football pitch. As commercial manager for Chadderton FC and former director of sports charity Dream Big Sports, he created pathways for countless young people to discover their potential through athletics.

Local MP Jim McMahon called him "quite the force in Chadderton and Oldham who did so much good for our community." Council leader Arooj Shah noted that "his energy and vision made a lasting impact on the local football and sports community."

The tributes keep coming from football clubs, local businesses, and families whose children found confidence and opportunity through Harris's programs. Saturday's match against North Shields will be held in his honor, with the community gathering to celebrate a life dedicated to lifting others up.

What stands out most isn't just what Dale accomplished, but how many people he inspired to do the same. His legacy lives on in every young person he mentored, every program he built, and every life he changed by simply showing up and caring.

That's the kind of impact that never fades.