Olympic finale for Rochdale’s Scott

Scott Goulding at the London 2012 Olympic Games

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An unsung hero of the London 2012 Olympic Games from Rochdale will mark his extraordinary summer with one last celebration tonight.

Scott Goulding, 41, was selected as one of the 70,000 Games Makers and has been invited to Manchester’s homecoming celebration this evening.

The event, which was held back until now to avoid clashes with other events in the city and to fit with athletes’ own commitments, will see Olympians and Paralympians who were born or based in Greater Manchester celebrated in Albert Square from 5.00pm-6.30pm.

Scott, who works as a revenue controller, volunteered in the events services department and said he was delighted to be able to don the uniform for one last time after a fantastic summer.

“It was a dream come true for me,” Scott, who was once a budding athlete himself, said.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in some part of the Olympics since I was at school and as soon as London was chosen as the venue I knew this would be the best opportunity to fulfil my dream.

“To be actually based inside the Olympic Stadium was totally amazing and it was unbelievable to actually witness gold medallists Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt.”

Scott’s role involved working in the seating bowl helping people with ticketing queries and seating problems.

As well as being able to witness first hand the achievements of the athletes on the track, Scott’s role also saw him meet celebrities, politicians and artists.

“I met Louis from One Direction, Suggs and Kate Moss,” he said.

“They were sound-checking for the closing ceremony, and when they finished Suggs came over to talk to a few of us.

“He was asking people where they were from, and they were saying Dagenham, Hackney and places down south.

“I threw a bit of a curveball in there when I said I was from Rochdale.

“I was proud and honoured to be representing my hometown town of Rochdale at the biggest sporting event ever held in this country, and the icing on the cake was to receive a letter from 10 Downing Street and a relay baton form Lord Coe,” he added.

Scott, a former Chairman of the Dale Supporters Trust, also ensured he wore his Rochdale shirt under his uniform during the Games.

Prior to the Olympics he had volunteered at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but said his 2012 experience exceeded it by some way.

“It was hundreds of times better,” he said. “Although the preparations for Manchester were better, the Games themselves went far beyond expectations.”

Scott was selected for his role after passing a stringent selection process, which involved an interview in Salford Quays, training in Hackney college and a trip to West Ham to pick up his uniform.

He said his employers had shown understanding however, and a London-based friend provided his accommodation.

“They were fantastic in allowing me the time for it all,” he said.

Tonight’s ceremony will also be attended by the Manchester-based cycling team - including gold medallists Sir Chris Hoy, Laura Trott and Sarah Storey - and will be compered by BBC commentator Paul Dickenson.

Councillor Rosa Battle, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said tonight’s event is in recognition of Greater Manchester’s contribution to the summer.  “The achievements of Manchester-based Olympians and Paralympians this year were incredible,” she said.

“It's no exaggeration to say that Team Manchester was at the heart of Team GB's gold rush, and that London 2012 would not have been the triumph it was without Manchester.

“This is our chance as a city to re-live and celebrate those achievements in what promises to be a memorable and atmospheric event.

“It's also an opportunity to pay tribute to those other Mancunians who made the Games such a great success - whether as torch-bearers, coaches or volunteers.”