Lewis Macari, the grandson of Manchester United and Scotland legend, Lou Macari, scored his first-ever goal in English football on his EFL debut for Notts County this weekend and it was an absolute screamer.
His grandfather, who played for Man United over 400 times and was part of Celtic’s iconic ‘Quality Street Gang’, still gives his name to one of the busiest matchday chippies outside Old Trafford and continues to work on behalf of the club to this day, but now his grandson is carrying the family on the pitch.
Lewis, still just 21, is on loan at the League Two side from parent club Stoke City, where Macari is also revered for his time as a manager across two spells and where his grandad still lives to this day helping the homeless community as he does here in Manchester.
Rifling home the edge-of-the-box rocket from centre-back no less, the youngster helped secure the three points in a 2-1 win against Gillingham in a moment he’ll never forget.
As you can see, it was a finish that anyone would make anyone proud, and one more than worthy of his family name, with Macari’s sons Michael and Lewis’ dad Paul both having played professionally at Stoke in the 90s too.
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The match-winner itself helped the Magpies stay within touching distance of Greater Manchester side and league leaders, Stockport County, with their promotion rivals now sat on just a two-point cushion at the top of the table.
While his grandad scored a nearly century of goals from midfield for United and many more during his career, as for Lewis, this was just his second-ever goal in professional football, having previously netted one whilst on loan at Dundalk in Ireland last year.
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Speaking to media after the game, the youngster admitted that it was “all a blur” after he struck the ball, joking that he couldn’t even remember how he celebrated.
As mentioned, Macari Senior’s legacy goes far beyond his sporting career and having his name on the front of a chip shop; Lou and his organisation have been helping care for homeless people in Manchester, Stoke and more for several years now, raising over £750,000 for related charities.
The Macari Foundation set up a homeless shelter, The Macari Centre, in central Stoke back in 2016, helping house countless rough sleepers and now providing a bed, four meals a deal and support to around 50 individuals a day.
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Here in 0161, the ex-Red Devil has also played a key role in helping United establish their ‘Big Sleepout‘ initiative, where members of the club and locals camped out inside the Munich Tunnel to raise money for vulnerable young people and homeless charities in the region for the first time last year.
The next sleepout, which is now set to be held in the stands of Old Trafford, takes place next month on 3 November. You can find out more information and how to get involved HERE.
Featured Image — EFL League Two/Notts County (via Twitter)
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Phil Foden picks up Premier League Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester City forward Phil Foden has picked up the Premier League’s Player of the Year award for the 2023/24 season.
Having enjoyed the best statistical campaign to date, with two games still left to play, the Stockport-born star City and England star has swept up his first-ever Premier League POTY award at the age of 23.
The attacking midfielder has already swept up Young Player of the Year twice in his career (2021 and 2022), which was awarded to former teammate Cole Palmer on Friday, and this accolade just goes to show how much of a first-team star he’s become over the past couple of years.
With both awards going to Manc footballers and Foden being the first Englishman to win it since Jamie Vardy in 2015/16, you’ll hear no complaints from us.
Foden has 25 goals and 11 assists this season, his highest tally ever, and with the chance of a domestic double still looming, he could be set for another unreal 12 months in sky blue.
Pep Guardiola’s side simply needs to beat West Ham this Sunday to win their fourth consecutive Premier League title and with a Manchester derby FA Cup final waiting for them next week, the local lad has a big fortnight ahead of him.
Having already become a treble winner with Man City last season, not to mention emerging as one of the first names on the team sheet for the Three Lions, he’s graduated from one of the most talented youngsters to one of the most impressive in Europe – and he’s got the stats to back it up.
Here’s hoping he can round off this year with some more silverware while wearing an England shirt. Here are some of his highlights from this season:
A huge congratulations to Phil Foden on winning the 23/24 Premier League Player of the Year; regardless of who you support, you can’t deny he’s been unreal this season.
In fact, his emergence as a senior figure and somewhat of a leader in this current City side has given us a lot faith for the summer and we’re more convinced than ever that Gareth Southgate must try and build around him if we stand a chance of going for in Euro 2024.
Is it coming home and will a lad from Stockport play a big part in bringing it here?
Cole Palmer wins Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred footballer, Cole Palmer, has won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award for 2023/24 following a spectacular breakthrough campaign.
The ex-Manchester City youth product made his big-money move to Chelsea at the start of this season and has been comfortably one of the best players in the league this year, once again proving the old adage that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Sitting second in the race for the Golden Boot behind former teammate Erling Haaland and shining as one of the most creative midfielders in Europe in his first full season, you could have banked on him winning it months ago.
🔵⭐️ OFFICIAL: Cole Palmer wins the award as Premier League Young Player of the Year. 🧊
Chelsea star has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists in Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/HYpthQiOU3
Having bagged a hattrick in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround against Manchester United as well as bagging four against Everton, just to name a couple of his most impressive performances over the past 12 months, he doesn’t like a player who only made a handful of appearances last year.
With the 22-year-old fittingly netting 22 goals not to mention 10 assists and quickly establishing himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s main man, despite the multi-billion squad assembled around him, it’s been nothing short of a remarkable emergence onto the biggest stage.
Having earned his first senior international call-up through his efforts too, he now looks set to be one the players England fans are dying to see start at the Euros – the point where many Blues are now wondering whether they made a mistake letting him go.
Congratulations to the Wythenshawe native on his well-deserved award and we sincerely look forward to seeing what he does in an England shirt this summer.
As for who will pick up the outright Premier League Player of the Year, surely Palmer picking up the youth award means that Phil Foden is set to mop up the main prize?
A clean sweep for Manc footballers. We like the sound of that.