Bolton Wanderers celebrated “peace, understanding and the wonderful diversity of Bolton” on Tuesday night at the club's first ever iftar event.
Iftar is known as the evening meal where Muslims around the world break their fasts after not eating from sunrise to sunset to observe Ramadan.
The breaking of the fast was celebrated at the University of Bolton Stadium as people of all faiths came together to pray and eat at the club's ground.
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Tickets for the evening sold out in less than 24 hours and the club is now eager to make the occasion an annual event.
Beth Warriner, from Bolton Wanderers in the Community, said that being able to bring people together from different backgrounds has been an incredible opportunity.
She said: “This is the first Iftar event that the club has ever done and it has been brilliant.
“We had over 200 tickets and overnight we completely sold out.
“I think we could have easily doubled our numbers, we have had so many people ask us to release more and a few asking for tickets on the door.
“We are hoping that we can make this an annual event and we will be able to increase the number of tickets for the next one.”
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At the event, after the first evening prayer, food was served and everyone could sit down to eat with friends.
CEO of Bolton Wanderers in the Community and club chaplain, Phil Mason, said that as a club they are keen to celebrate the diversity of the town.
He said: “A project that is very close to our hearts is the unity project within the club because that is all about peace, understanding and celebrating that wonderful diversity we have in Bolton.
“This event is so important because it's bringing in an understanding of parts of our community, our great family and the Muslim faith while trying to demystify some of the festivals out there around religion.
“We are breaking down barriers to give each other a greater understanding of what diversity is about and how every religion that we celebrate is about love, understanding, peace, justice, and giving.”
Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, also attended along with Wanderers chairman Sharon Brittan.
Sharon said that when she decided to come into football in 2018 bringing communities together had been one of her main priorities.
She said: “You can feel it in Bolton, the way the club has connected with the town and the community, it brings us such a warm feeling.
“I have fasted and it is hard, especially when you're working, but I found it isn't the food I miss, it is the liquid and drinking.
"Although it is hard it makes you focus your mind and appreciate what we have.
“You focus on those who don’t have what we have, whose nutritional needs are not met and I find that fasting makes me focus on how lucky we are.”
She added that after finding God in 2006, she felt that she was given purpose, focus, understanding and a coping mechanism because "life isn't easy".
She added: “In this room, there are a lot of wonderful people who are so special and do so much good.
“I believe that once you find comfort and peace within yourself you can help others and do what we are here to do, work together and help each other on our journeys no matter our beliefs or backgrounds.”
If you have a story tweet @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.
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