Our native netball team, Manchester Thunder, and Bolton-based principal sponsor, AO, recently helped provide new kits to grassroots clubs in the region.
We love to see it.
Acting in collaboration not only with the local electrical retailer but with the team’s very own kit manufacturer and sportswear supplier, VX3, who design gear for all manner of disciplines, Manchester Thunder visited the Platt Lane Sports Complex in Fallowfield to visit some youth netball teams.
Surprising the girls at the popular Greater Manchester community sports venue – operated by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) – a trio of different outfits from the North West and beyond were kitted out with jerseys, shorts, netball dresses, t-shirts and more.
Ribble Valley NC, Bangor’s Thundercats, and Chester, who were named North West Netball Club of the Year back in 2023, were all presented the boxes of brand-new netball kit.
These training and match-ready sportswear packages were worth more than £500 each, with VX3 renowned for their top-quality products, particularly prominent in both netball and rugby.
With approximately 700,000 women and girls playing netball nationwide every year, and an estimated 3.1 million people playing the sport annually, it remains the highest female participation sport in the country.
Multiple Manchester Thunder players were also in attendance on the day to help dish out the new kits, delighting youngsters who are no doubt hoping to follow in their footsteps one day.
Better still, not only were the kits bespoke to each club, but they also included tickets to a Thunder match, as well as an exclusive training session with the senior stars themselves.
Thundercats Under 12sRibble Valley U11sChester Netball ClubManchester Thunder presented netball kits to dozens of aspiring young players. (Credit: Supplied)
When it comes to the likes of Chester, the nearby netball team saw their previous season hit by multiple obstacles, including their summer club tournament, which typically serves as a key annual fundraiser, being called off due to adverse weather conditions.
That being said, competitions and generous donations like these prove vital for spotting organisations up and down the UK.
Maya Nelson, Head Coach of Ribble’s under-11s squad, said of the heartwarming event: “Getting the kit means a lot to the club.
“I think the dress, especially with them being different to our usual kit, is a really nice touch, and it’s something that we can wear to competitions and different events, and feel a little bit special.
“We’re always trying to recycle kit through pre-loved sales, so it’s nice for the girls to be able to be gifted something new through the competition, and not having to wear second-hand kit. We were all absolutely buzzing and we couldn’t believe it.”
At the time of the launch, Arafa Heneghan, Director of Brand at AO, said: “We’re incredibly passionate about supporting young people and grassroots team sports at AO, so we’re thrilled to run this competition for the next generation of netball stars, alongside Manchester Thunder.
“We know how much pride players take in their kits, so ten lucky teams getting the chance to create something bespoke with VX3 is really exciting.”
As official partners of the legendary AO Arena, the city’s iconic venues will also host the return of the England Netball team for an important international test series.
Featured Images — Supplied (via Manchester Thunder/AO)
Bolton
Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns for its 20th anniversary this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
The award-winning Bolton Food and Drink Festival is returning this bank holiday weekend for its 20th year in the town.
For the last two decades years, Bolton Food and Drink Festival has been taking over the Greater Manchester town for August bank holiday weekend, fusing street food, drinks, music, and entertainment for the whole family to feast on – with the event attracting more than half a million visitors in previous years.
And 2025 is no different… in fact, it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before, as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary.
This year, iconic TV chef, Marco Pierre White, will make his festival debut, and event favourite James Martin returns for impressive 15th year.
Both will be taking to the stage for live cooking demos and Q&As, while regional chefs from across the North West and beyond will also be serving up free live workshops, sharing their culinary know-how with festival-goers across all four days.
The programme is packed with special events, including the return of the ever-popular Faulty Towers Dining Experience and the crowd-pleasing Sheer Luck Holmes murder mystery, plus a gala dinner on the Friday night.
Author, wine expert and presenter Helen McGinn, aka ‘Knackered Mother’, will also be hosting a wine tasting and afternoon tea in the town’s historic Albert Halls.
Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns for its 20th anniversary this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Paul Heyes & BFDF
Visitors can experience a global selection of food, drink, and artisan crafts across the festival’s stalls, with outdoor bars and live music from the likes of 90s boy band East 17, and legendary disco and soul group Odyssey.
Families can enjoy free activities from Bolton Library and Museum and The Octagon, while roaming street performers bring added fun and entertainment throughout the town centre.
“Bolton Food and Drink Festival is the jewel in our cultural crown – a vibrant celebration of our town’s creativity, hospitality and community spirit,” commented Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to experience everything Bolton has to offer.”
Bolton Food and Drink Festival is taking over Bolton town centre this bank holiday weekend, starting this Friday 22 August through to Monday 25 August.
Entry is FREE, although you can get tickets special events throughout the weekend online here.
Featured Image – Paul Hayes (via BFDF)
Bolton
Three Greater Manchester boroughs named in UK’s top 10 fly-tipping hotspots
Emily Sergeant
Three Greater Manchester boroughs have unfortunately claimed place in the list of the UK’s top 10 fly-tipping hotspots.
There’s absolutely no denying that fly-tipping has becoming an increasing issue in recent years, with the UK’s rubbish problem piling up… literally. And now new analysis of Government data has revealed that councils in England dealt with more than 2.7 million fly-tipping incidents in the past year.
In theory, this is the equivalent of more than 7,397 illegal dumps every single day.
The research, which has been conducted by garage clearance company, Rainbow Rubbish Removals, ranked local authorities on the scale of their littering crisis, looking at the number of waste and land incidents, as well as the total amount of fines issued.
This was all in a bid to find out who has earned the unwelcome title of Britain’s fly-tipping capital – and it’s not pleasant news for Greater Manchester.
Three Greater Manchester boroughs have been named in the UK’s top 10 fly-tipping hotspots / Credit: Alan Stanton (via Flickr)
Thankfully though, while three boroughs in our region have found themselves on the top 10 list, they’re not right near the top and actually claim the last three places – with Oldham at number eight, Manchester at number nine, and Bolton in the tenth spot.
Oldham recorded 479.28 fly-tipping incidents per 10,000 residents, Manchester recorded 348.36, and Bolton had 503.36.
While Bolton recorded the most incidents out of the three local regions, it actually dished out the least amount of fines for the incidents, hence why it falls below below Oldham and Manchester.
Claiming the non-so-favourable title of the UK’s fly-tipping capital is Lewisham.
Top 10 Fly-tipping Hotspots in the UK
Lewisham
Newcastle
Westminster
Peterborough
Newham
Hammersmith and Fulham
Brent
Oldham
Manchester
Bolton
Several other boroughs in London also found themselves in the top 10, with Westminster, Newham, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Brent all featuring.
“Fly-tipping isn’t just an ugly blot on the landscape, it’s a stubborn public health risk and an environmental time bomb,” commented Miroslav Radov, who is a waste expert at Rainbow Rubbish Removals.
“Our findings reveal a worrying pattern in big cities, especially London [and Greater Manchester].
“If action isn’t stepped up, these areas could become permanent dumping grounds, with taxpayers footing the clean-up bill year after year.
“Solving this crisis means more than just sweeping up the mess – it calls for tougher penalties that bite, more accessible waste disposal options, and a cultural shift where people take real responsibility for the rubbish they create.”
Danny Jones -
30th July 2025 
