During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II always made time for Manchester.
The monarch made a number of memorable visits to the city during her record-breaking reign, which saw her spend seven decades on the throne – the longest of any reigning monarch in British history.
Celebrating Manchester’s historic moments and offering her sympathies in tough times, from walking the infamous Coronation Street cobbles to visiting injured children who had been hospitalised by the Manchester Arena attack, the late Monarch was always on hand to mark some of the city’s key moments with a kind word or a friendly wave.
Acting as a stabilising and reassuring presence for many years, she could be relied upon to join Mancunians for celebrations on important occasions and support and to commiserate with us whenever tragedy has struck.
The Queen last visited Greater Manchester just a year ago but she paid many a visit over the decades. She was dearly loved – and will be greatly missed by people across Ashton, Droylsden and Failsworth. She promised to serve the nation and she kept that word throughout her life. pic.twitter.com/EJLqdyeK5k
Following the attack at Manchester Arena in 2017, Her Majesty visited young victims in hospital who had been injured at the Ariana Grande concert and spoke with staff treating victims of the explosion.
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On a visit to Royal Manchester children’s hospital, she described the event as “very wicked” and whilst speaking with hospital clinicians, doctors, nurses and porters added that: “the awful thing was that everyone was so young. The age of them”, echoing the thoughts of shocked locals.
The Commonwealth Games
#royal#flashback "JULY 25, 2002: England captain David Beckham and Kirsty Howard hand the Queen's Jubille baton to Queen Elizabeth II after its final leg around the city of Manchester stadium at the opening of the Commonwealth Games. pic.twitter.com/yCOmZ4FUyO
Her Majesty visited the city many times to celebrate positive moments, including the Commonwealth Games in 2002 – something of a momentous occasion for Manchester.
During the opening ceremony at the City of Manchester Stadium, she was handed the Jubilee Baton by none other than David Beckham and Kirsty Howard after its final leg had been completed.
The Queen visited the city in the summer of 1992 to open Manchester’s Metrolink and unveiled a plaque on St Peter’s Square, meeting a group of local school children as part of her visit.
In her most recent visit to Manchester in 2021, Queen Elizabeth re-visited the famous Coronation Street cobbles and popped into the one and only Rover’s Return pub to mark the soap’s diamond jubilee.
Her Majesty travelled to Manchester for a tour of the studios, having last seen them in 1982, and was astonished to hear that the iconic cobbles were the very same ones she had walked on during her last visit, despite the set having been moved.
Technically this was not a visit made by the Queen to Manchester as the final FA Cup match was held at Wembley Stadium, but this was an important moment nonetheless as the Queen presented the season cup to the club in the summer of 1963.
A huge supporter of many sports including football, a number of events have been called off following her passing out of respect for the late Monarch.
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Marking 50 years of the Heinz Factory
Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth on reaching her #PlatinumJubilee with 70 years of dedicated service to our wonderful country. 👑
We are sharing this fond memory of her majesty at our Wigan factory celebrating 50 years since it opened & her 57th year on the throne. #HM70pic.twitter.com/Xy21Y3sUnU
Queen Elizabeth II visited Wigan’s Heinz Factory in 2009 to mark the anniversary of the official opening of the plant 50 years ago.
The Wigan factory is the largest food processing plant in Europe and the largest of Heinz’s factories around the world. As part of the visit a new Heinz packing operation was opened and started by the Queen.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Could the reaction to Casemiro’s swansong Man United season see him stay ‘one more year’?
Danny Jones
Casemiro has arguably been up there with one of the best Manchester United signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, after the likes of Bruno Fernandes; maybe not in terms of how it’s impacted the wider transfer budget, but now he’s about to leave, most supporters aren’t ready to let him go.
Truly, if they had their way, many would happily keep him for at least “one more year”, as they continuously chanted during the most recent home game.
However, with the footballing veteran himself admitting that he’s been left moved by the response and certainly basked in the chants for him to stay following the win over Aston Villa last weekend, another one in which he chipped in with a key goal.
Casemiro scored the opener in what went on to be a vital 3-1 win in their pursuit of Champions League places, and has made it clear that, like the rest of the squad, this is his only goal for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
But with United now looking closer to securing third or perhaps even chasing down second place, according to many (some have even gone further than that…), this current, albeit still early doors, resurgence under Michael Carrick could be the start of a corner turned for the one serial winners.
However, fans have seen many false dawns at Old Trafford over the past decade or so, and there is obviously the risk of him ultimately spoiling what should now be a fine and fitting farewell.
Then again, after speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said it’s been “way more” special than he was expecting since he revealed his plans to leave on a high, and stranger things have happened.
You only have to look at Mohammed Salah and Liverpool, who looked all set to go before eventually U-turning and signing a new deal – though contract terms no doubt helped swing those negotiations.
As one of the highest-earning players not just at Man United or even the Premier League but in Europe, he’s already earned serious amounts during his time with the Red Devils, so there is a belief that the incumbent INEOS board would be happy to shift him off the books and reinvest in replacing him.
#mufc are in advanced talks to sign Bruno Guimaraes for around €80m, but renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move [@Reuters, @fernandokallas]
The likes of Guimaraes, previously courted Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Wolves duo André and Joao Gomes have all been linked with possible moves to Manchester of late.
In fact, depending on how much room Jim Ratcliffe and co. have for spending on recruitment, they could potentially even cover the wages of more than one signing in the middle of the park or other positions that they feel may require further reinforcements.
All this is still very much in theory, of course, and while Casemiro has seemingly confirmed that he will depart this summer, who knows how much of the recent reaction and outpouring of love and support from the Stretford End and beyond could potentially sway the outcome?…
Then again, do you think reconsidering the decision would be a wise move, or at his age, is four years in the English top flight enough?
The Manc -
9th September 2022 
