Footballer

The Footballer is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

Many people in the town follow football teams, especially the two big local teams, Manchester United and Manchester City. However, Ashton has two football teams of its own - Ashton United, with a ground at Hurst Cross, and Curzon Ashton, with a new ground at Richmond Street.

Of course, a lot of people take part themselves, with local amateur teams, school teams and impromptu games in parks, playgrounds and other places. Lots of boys (of all ages) and quite a few girls are the proud owners of replica football club kits. However, the player depicted heading the ball in the sculpture is not wearing the normal sort of attire you would expect of a footballer! He seems to be clad in some sort of jacket and trousers.

This is the last of the seven sculptures to appear here. You can see the other sculptures along Lord Sheldon Way here.

Cyclist

The Cyclist is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes. Lord Sheldon Way is the new western approach to Ashton from Manchester and will be the route of the Metrolink tram.

According to Tameside Council, the statues are designed to "enhance the visual environment" and "boost the first impressions of people visiting Ashton and create a lasting and positive image of the town".

Jogger

The Jogger is another of the seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

I think the figure may have looked better jogging towards the green verge in the background rather than towards the busy road!

The yellow block in the distance is part of the IKEA store in Ashton.

Walkers

The Walkers is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

Walking is a popular hobby with local countryside on the doorstep and the Pennine moors only a bus ride away.

It's tempting to wonder whether the walkers depicted here are contemplating hopping onto the next bus!

500th Post: Trumpeter

The Trumpeter is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

Actually, the Trumpeter is probably a Cornetist, since Ashton has close associations with the world of Brass Band music, and brass bands use cornets, rather than trumpets, for their treble instruments.

I notice that this is the 500th post since I started this photo blog! Let's hope the Trumpeter isn't performing The Last Post!

Gardener

The Gardener is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

The Gardener is taking a break from digging or hoeing and is sweeping up the autumn leaves!

In spite of being an industrial town, Ashton under Lyne has a long association with gardening. Not far from this statue was the market garden run by Bill Sowerbutts, a regular panellist for many years on BBC radio's "Gardeners' Question Time" programme.

Indeed, the very first edition of the programme was broadcast from the Broadoak Hotel in 1947, with Bill as one of the panellists. The programme was broadcast under its original, less-catchy name of "How Does Your Garden Grow? - A Gardeners' Question Time".

Behind the statue can be seen some of the few market garden plots remaining on Ashton Moss.

Cricketer

The Cricketer is one of seven sculptures sited along Lord Sheldon Way depicting local leisure pastimes.

The Cricketer is well-placed because, if he could whack the ball hard enough over his shoulder, it would land on Ashton Cricket Club's pitch!