Chief Inspector for Neighbourhoods, Claire Galt, joined Neighbourhood Sergeant Steve Naylor in presenting a framed football shirt to JMW Solicitors Partner Chris Fallows and Senior Associate Catherine Gaynor.
JMW Solicitors, who have an team of established police lawyers with unique and unparalleled experience in representing police officers throughout the UK and abroad, had previously supported GMP Tameside by sponsored the match balls for a charity event between GMP Tameside and Mossley-based homeless charity, Emmaus, and were approached to see if they would be interested in sponsoring the new kit.
The cost of the kit was covered by JMW and was purchased from EV2 Sportswear. The colours of the kit are based on the wrist bands worn by police officers and staff in memory of Tameside officers, PC’s Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, who were killed in the line of duty in 2012.
The design of the kit was chosen by officers and staff from the Tameside division and words on the right sleeve of every shirt read: “Our heroes have collar numbers 12601 & 14846” to honour Fiona and Nicola.
Tameside Police Football Team
Police sergeant, Stephen Naylor in the Ashton Neighbourhood Team and manager of the divisional football team, said: “We are very grateful to Chris and JMW Solicitors, as we are able to play our divisional and charity football matches in a new kit, and pay tribute to our fallen colleagues Nicola and Fiona.
“We are currently playing in the Chief Constables Cup Competition, sitting in second place in Group A, with just two games to play. A win from one of these games will see us progress to the quarter final and hopefully all the way to the final in May.”
The team have also had a football shirt framed and hung in the Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone Conference Suite in Ashton-under-Lyne Police Station.
Bryn Hughes, father of Nicola, said : “It’s comforting and heart-warming to know that even after 11 years, both Nicola & Fiona are being remembered and included in community events such as football matches.”
Chief inspector of Neighbourhoods and Partnership in Tameside, Claire Galt, said: “We think about Nicola and Fiona every day and take every opportunity we can to ensure that they are not forgotten.
“We continue to do good work in their name and it has been a privilege to see PS Naylor set up and manage the football team. I want to give a big thank you to Chris Fallows and JMW Solicitors for sponsoring the kit and to Nicola and Fiona’s family for always supporting us.”
