On the field, Marcus Rashford still has plenty to play for.
Aged just 22, the Manchester United star probably has at least a decade’s worth of football ahead of him.
Ample time, you’d imagine, to pick up honours that have so far eluded him.
Premier League, Champions League, and even World Cup Winners’ medals will all be on his agenda. Football has so many prizes to offer Rashford in the exciting years ahead.
But outside of sport, it seems there’s very little else for him to win.
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The striker’s ongoing campaign to end food poverty – which allowed thousands of children to claim free school meal vouchers throughout the summer holidays in the coronavirus pandemic – has seen him earn a place on the cover of British Vogue (for the magazine’s Activism Now edition); an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester; and an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for 2020.
But Rashford now has the task of finding some more room within his rapidly diminishing shelf space.
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The striker has been listed as a trophy recipient in the upcoming Pride of Britain Awards: with Special Recognition.
Rashford is being given the prestigious honour for his continued fight to end child poverty – which has stepped up to a new level this month and captured the imagination of the British public.
The England star’s new campaign, which calls on the government to expand free school meals and increase the value of Healthy Start vouchers to at least £4.25 per week, was voted down in the House of Commons last week.
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But Rashford has already forced Downing Street into one u-turn this year and is hoping to do so again – claiming he is ‘not going anywhere’; with the government coming under increasing pressure to review the request.
Captain Tom Moore will also be celebrated at the Pride of Britain Awards
Rashford, who relied on free school dinners when he was growing up in Manchester, will be one of three Manchester winners at the 2020 Pride of Britain awards.
The others are Dena Murphy – a 92-year-old who has helped 300 ex-offender’s complete community service orders by teaching them allotment gardening – and Child of Courage Emmie Narayn-Nicholas who set up Emmie’s Kitchen after spending 100 nights at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Captain Tom Moore will also be celebrated at the ceremony – after the 99-year-old army veteran raised £27 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden.
The Pride of Britain Awards will be broadcast on November 1 on ITV 1.
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Manchester councillor Bev Craig has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List
Danny Jones
The leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, has officially been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List for 2026.
Councillor Craig, who has held her leadership position since October 2021, received the OBE for her services to local government.
She joins several other regional councillors to be named by King Charles III.
First elected by Burnage residents back in 2011, she has spent more than a decade and a half devoting her professional life to the community, as well as nearly a whole five years of that time at the highest level within the Council.
The University of Manchester graduate has played several key roles throughout her career, including giving back to higher education, helping trade unions, as well as serving as an executive member for adult social care and health during the pandemic, before serving as Deputy and eventually Leader.
Speaking in an official statement, Craig said: “To receive an OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.
“Manchester is an incredible city, made special by its people and a place I’m proud to call home.
“Leading our city is a privilege I don’t take for granted, so to get awarded an OBE for what we’ve been doing to make Manchester an even better place to live and improve the lives of Manchester people, while creating a city that is fairer and more inclusive for generations to come, is the real honour.”
With the Council having also confirmed two special NYE events on either side of the Town Hall this year, it feels like a fitting celebration.
Congratulations to Bev Craig on the well-deserved accolade and title; we have no doubt she’ll continue to excel in her post.
You can find the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List HERE.
As for the discussion around knighthoods, many Brits are currently calling for a change in the rules in hopes of making OBE, CBE and MBE, Kevin Sinfield a Sir.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Manchester City Council)
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VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
The Manc -
26th October 2020 
