A Bolton Sports club established over 50 years ago picked-up the Community Sports honour at the 2018 Fusion Awards.

The ceremony held in the Concert Hall at King George’s Hall Blackburn  was attended by guests from across the North West. The 2018 ceremony was hosted by Noreen Khan.

The Mumtaz Ellahi Community Sports Award is named after an inspirational Ju-Jtisu Instructor who died in 2007.

Asian Image:

They were presented the award Mumtaz Ellahi Community Sports Award by Mumtaz's son Ajwer Ellahi.

The Bolton Indians Sports Club (BISC) was set up in an age when the first generation of immigrants were settling in the North West.

Now, 54 years later after the hard work and effort of volunteers and sports enthusiasts, the club caters for hundreds of people of all ages.

The club was established in 1964 by a group of Indian and African men and was originally called Azad Cricket Club.  The men worked on farmland in Darcy Lever where farmers would allow them to play cricket.

It has grown to become one of the most active clubs of its kind in the UK catering for more than 500 members.

The clubs hosts a range of sports including cricket and football as well charitable events for all members of the community.

Despite challenges the club continues to find innovative new ways to sustain itself.

Asian Image:

Pravin Parmar, Chair of BISC said, “We are proud and honoured to have been chosen to receive the Community Sports Award.

“Like most community based sport clubs the backbone of many of the services are delivered by a dedicated team of Volunteers and some overly passionate and competitive parents and over the last 50 years balancing this has been the key to our success.

“It is this passion and dedication that is being recognised today by receiving such a wonderful Award.

“The Bolton Indian Sports Club is now helping to deliver many of the sporting activities to a very high standard in partnership with Council, the College and University and this has gone a long way to becoming a sustainable club.

 “So on behalf of the Bolton Indian Sports Club we would like to sincerely thank you for highlighting the terrific work the Club does and this Fusion Award which will certainly find a Pride of Place in our Pavilion.”