Following a year where our region dominated the domestic football scene once again, it should not be overlooked that Manchester Futsal Club (MFC) also quietly qualified for the Champions League for the first time ever.
Long misunderstood as mainly a feeder sport for footballing talent, futsal as its own discipline has come on leaps and bounds over the past decade or so, with over 60 million people now playing worldwide.
Greater Manchester boasted not only being home to the 23/24 Premier League champions, FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup winners in Manchester City and Man United, as well as League Two Champions Stockport County, but also another treble-winning team in their own right.
Being crowned National Futsal League champions alongside winning the League Cup and the Grand Final last month, MFC rightly earned Club of the Year by the FA and will now be competing in the European competition for the first time in their 18-year history. Nothing short of huge.
Better still, with Manchester helping host this year’s tournament from their home ground at the National Cycling Centre not too far from the Etihad Campus, they’re hoping to draw in bigger crowds than ever.
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With the Group D preliminary rounds set to take place between 22-25 August, Manchester Futsal Club are set to take on Tigers Roermond (Dutch Champions), Istanbul Sisli SK (Turkish Champions) and FC Yerevan (Armenian Champions), who also hosted last year’s final.
Mallorca Palma Futsal won back-to-back UEFA Futsal Champions Leagues last season after winning the title on debut in 2022/23 when they also served as hosts.
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Here’s hoping for similar good fortune when we welcome the other three European clubs next month.
Co-founder and CEO, Simon Wright, said of the team’s impressive progress thus far: “It’s been a pretty phenomenal season for the Senior Men’s team […] It’s been a direct outcome of years of hard work and persistence to deliver these fantastic achievements for the players and coaching staff.
“Qualification for the club into the UEFA Futsal Champions League is our reward now. We are now entering the elite competition for our sport so we’re incredibly proud to be representing English Futsal and the City of Manchester. It’s a big step but we’re ready to face that challenge head-on, we just have to focus on the preparation now and be ready to go come 22nd August.”
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With Manchester Football Club capable of hosting 3,500 fans over at Sportcity, the run of games which kicks off on Thursday and runs until Sunday could see huge attendances pile into the arena over the course of the four days.
Futsal also happens to still be one of the most affordable ways to watch live sport in the region too, with individual tickets for Champions League fixtures starting from just a tenner for adults. Alternatively, a pass for the entire preliminary round will only set you back £25 for adults, £12.50 for students and a mere fiver for under 16s.
Tickets for Manchester Futsal Club’s Champions League fixtures are available now and you can grab yours HERE.
Tributes pour in as former Rochdale and Bury midfielder Joe Thompson dies at just 36
Danny Jones
Awful news to share with you this bank holiday, as former Rochdale and Bury FC midfielderJoe Thompson has sadly passed away. He was just 36 years old.
Born in Bath, he spent time at both Man United and Rochdale’s academies before representing the first team, as well as representing fellow Greater Manchester club Bury and other teams in the North West – a region where he built a life with his partner and his two kids.
The ex-pro ultimately had to retire from football following a long battle with cancer, having been given the all clear from stage four lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) twice before during his playing days, before tragically receiving a heartbreaking third diagnosis last April.
News of his death broke on Good Friday, 18 April, having “passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning”. His wife Chantelle and eldest daughter Thailula shared a lengthy and heartbreaking statement on social media.
Confirming that he passed surrounded by his family, they wrote: “Joe has made such an impact on so many people and we are all forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against all the odds.
“He was the most Incredible husband, son, brother, friend and father to our beautiful daughters, who will now carry his light and legacy on, and I will continue to keep filling them up with Joe’s love every single day […] I know he will be deeply missed by everyone and the world will not be the same without his contagious energy.”
Addressing their followers directly, who have been unwavering in their support for Joe and his family over recent years, The Thompsons went on to add: “Long may his legacy and impact live on! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey with us… We are all forever grateful.”
They also announced that his funeral will be an open service to allow others inspired by his story, charity work, from his Dale days saving the club from relegation and more to pay their respects, with more details to follow soon.
Countless figures from around the footballing world have joined the likes of the Red Devils and his other former clubs in paying touching tributes to the inspiring individual.
A man who epitomised our club's values ❤️
We are saddened to share that Joe Thompson has passed away.
A warm personality who had a deep connection with our club from a young age, our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/40ddQpyRTi
Very sad news, to battle cancer once is extremely brave but to battle it three times is not just brave but you need a strong mindset and obviously Joe had that to keep fighting. Thoughts with Joe’s family and friends.
Joe and his family were friends with our very own Amy here at The Manc, so it goes without saying that we offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched – our thoughts are with all of them at this difficult time.
She said: “To one of the most incredible men I have ever met – Joe it was an unbelievable honour to have known you, you were the light in any room, and I can’t believe we have to carry on in this world without you.
“To the guy with the best laugh and best waves, you will forever be missed.”
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Danny Jones -
22nd July 2024 
