Sport

Manchester Marathon found fresh community fund following milestone charitable efforts

They're continuing to give back to the region every single year.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 30th January 2026

The Manchester Marathon has begun a new community fund following more than a decade of incredible charity efforts.

Known as the Trafford Active Fund for the last 10 years or so, the initiative covers not only the city and its wider boroughs’ annual 26.2-mile long race, but various other sports and activity-based schemes across the region.

Now, though, the fresh Manc Marathon Fund is evolving in partnership with the existing Trafford Moving Fund and MCRactive arm of Manchester City Council by expanding its vital charity work further afield than ever before.

Launching ahead of the 2026 event this spring, runners will once again be behind crucial funding across the Greater Manchester region and beyond.

The new Manchester Marathon Community Fund logo (Credit: Supplied)

For context, back in 2024, the MCR Marathon raised nearly £30 million for the local economy and roughly £3.7m for charities like the Alzheimer’s Society; last April, that figure surpassed more than £4m, and the fundraising numbers only continue to increase with every year.

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With that in mind, more than £60k is distributed to various partner programmes that “inspire
movement, improve wellbeing, and create meaningful change for local people”.

Moving forward, not only will £1 from every paid entry into the Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half continue to go directly into the Manchester Marathon Community Fund (MMCF).

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Andrew Smith, Chief Executive of A.S.O. UK – organisers of the MCR Marathon and Half – said: “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact the Trafford Active Fund has delivered locally over the years, and we’re excited to extend that impact across both Trafford and Manchester City [Centre].

“By broadening our reach, the MMCF will help even more people to get active and contribute to a legacy of movement and wellbeing. Our relationship with Trafford remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing to support the brilliant community projects that make a real difference there.”

As for those who can benefit directly from the scheme, applying for funding through the Manchester Marathon Community Fund is simple:

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  • Community groups and projects in Trafford or the City of Manchester can apply for funding via the Trafford Moving Fund and MCR Active (dependent on their location).
  • A panel from each organisation reviews applications and selects projects that best demonstrate lasting impact.
  • We share stories from funded projects throughout the year, so you can see the difference your event entry makes.

You can access funding by applying for the Trafford Moving Fund online, and you can apply for funding through MCR Active HERE.

We love how much the North West regularly dedicates its charitable efforts, both socially and physically, towards important causes throughout the year.

Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied via Manchester Marathon/ASO UK)

Sport

Academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving Manchester City on a permanent transfer

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oscar Bobb leaving Man City for Fulham done deal

Manchester City youth academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving the club after sealing a move to Fulham FC.

Despite plenty of loan interest throughout the January transfer window, the Man City attacker has secured a switch to the in-form West London team on a permanent basis.

Bobb looked increasingly likely to leave in some capacity following the arrival of another winger in the form of instant hit, Antoine Semenyo, but it now looks as though his departure is all but confirmed, bar an imminent official announcement.

As reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement has now been reached between the two clubs pending a full medical today (Thursday, 29 January).

According to Romano, Fulham will pay Man City approximately £27 million for Bobb’s services, who becomes the latest addition in what has already been a fairly busy period of recruitment.

He goes on to add that “City also mantain [a] 20% sell-on clause, matching rights and future control on the player based on his decision.”

There is no suggestion of a buy-back clause at this time, but given his age and having already made a fair few appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s first team, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility to see him return to the club one day.

Bobb also arrives at Craven Cottage following the exit of multiple wingers and offensive options, including Adama Traore, ex-Man United product Andreas Pereira and Arsenal youngster, Reiss Nelson, whose loan deal has expired and has signed another temporary deal at local rivals, Brentford.

A similar scenario played out with James Trafford at the start of this season, though it now looks as though the young keeper could once again leave before the end of the month. Many City supporters understandably have some mixed feelings about both situations.

The young Norwegian winger joined the Etihad Campus back in 2023 and went on to contribute a handful of goals and assists, despite limited appearances and some very unfortunate injury issues.

Only seven months ago, his soon-to-be former parent club released a short video charting his return from the sidelines after fracturing his leg – a setback which kept him out for roughly five months.

Plenty of fans have quickly placed him in the so-called ‘what if?’ category of players, and given that he’s still just 22 years old and has already impressed on a number of ocassions for such a big club, we wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on to have a very exciting career.

Can you see the Blues bringing in or letting anyone else go before deadline day?

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Featured Images — pantkiewicz (via Flickr)/El Loko (via WikiCommons)/Man City (via YouTube)

Sport

Tyson Fury has officially revealed his comeback fight after coming out of ‘retirement’ once again

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Tyson Fury has officially announced the opponent for his comeback fight after yet again returning to professional boxing.

Fury supposedly ‘retired’ for seemingly the umpteenth time last January following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk the month prior, and some even believed it might have actually been his final outing.

Nevertheless, ‘The Gypsy King’ said he was coming out of retirement once more earlier this year, and now his next match-up has been confirmed.

Revealing the other contender as Aslanbek Makhmudo, the fight will be aired live on Netflix only.

Partnered exclusively with boxing magazine, Ring, the bout between Fury and Makhmudo is the latest big fight night to be picked up by the streaming giants.

The most recent example was, obviously, Anthony Joshua’s brutal knockout of influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul this past December.

Makhmudo, just a year younger than his opposite number, is a fellow experienced heavyweight based mainly out of Canada with a decent pedigree of his own.

The Russian, simply known as ‘The Lion’, has a record of 21 wins – more than half of those coming by KO.

With that in mind, he presents a potentially exciting prospect for the famous Manchester fighter, who hasn’t won a proper competitive fight since the defence of his WBC belt against Derek Chisora in December 2022.

Similarly, this should at least see two very well-seasoned pros going head to head.

He did fight MMA veteran Francis Ngannou in a one-off exhibition, but there was no title or anything tangible on the line.

In fact, even Fury himself admitted it was a “below par” showing.

Many fight fans would argue that there haven’t been enough proper big heavyweight dates since Fury vs Usyk, and even then, we are still yet to get a date for the all-but fully confirmed final fight of the trilogy.

Fury himself did state that the conclusion of their clash is scheduled for this April, but nothing official has been set in stone by any promotion or venue and the new date means it’s even less likely to be any time soon; meanwhile, plenty are still hoping for AJ vs Fury.

The 37-year-old will take on Makhmudo on Saturday, 11 April, and you can bet the world will be watching.

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Featured Images — FurociTV (via YouTube)/Netflix/Ring Magazine/@Mike_DiDomizio(via X)

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