DIGGLE FC CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ENGLAND AND MANCHESTER UNITED LEGEND PAUL PARKER

To mark the occasion and to help Diggle Football Club celebrate their 60th season in existence, they invited players old and new to Boarshurst Band Club in Greenfield, and an evening with former QPR, Manchester United and England legend, Paul Parker.

The sell-out anniversary event was hosted by stand-up comedian and actor Smug Roberts, who many of you may recognise from television shows such as Cutting It, Buried, Cold Feet, Phoenix Nights and more recently, Coronation Street.
Before the entertainment started and pie and peas served, over 120 attendees shared
many Diggle FC stories and reflected on famous matches against great rivals around the region. Speaking on the night, first team manager, Richard Devy said:“It’s great to see so many familiar faces, both new and old, turn out for such an event, and it just shows how highly regarded the club is within the area.

We are not only celebrating the fact that we have reached 60, which is an achievement in itself, but also some of the great friendships that have been formed over many years, so long may that continue.We’re hopeful of following this event up with another similar one, next year.” After Smug entertained the guests and picked his way past one or two mild hecklers, Parker joined him on stage to talk about his early career, growing up as a footballer in the 1980’s, playing for QPR and Fulham, meeting Sir Alex Ferguson and joining Manchester United, before reflecting on his experience with England at World Cup’90.

The former defender also made time to give his views on the current United side, and posed for photographs. Parker said:“It was great to be part of Diggle FC’s evening. It’s clear to see what a popular club this is and I wish Richard, Mark and both teams the very best in the future. The evening concluded with an auction which included signed memorabilia from the Class of ‘92 and Cristiano Ronaldo, plus a signed Jamie Carragher shirt and an England World Cup’90 shirt signed on the night by Parker himself. Keep an eye out for more exciting Diggle FC news throughout 2019 and if you would like to play for one of Diggle’s two open age teams, or are potentially interested in sponsoring them during their 60th year, then get in touch with Richard Devy on 07854 130553 or Mark Smith on 07712 576463.