News

Bolton boy ‘inspired by Rashford’ uses own savings to buy schoolmate new football boots

Xavier's heartwarming gesture was captured on camera and has since gone viral.

The Manc The Manc - 26th March 2021

A schoolboy in Bolton has captured hearts across the nation after using his own savings to to buy a fellow student a brand new pair of football boots.

Xavier had noticed his classmate Eric had been wearing pumps during PE classes since his original shoes had been damaged.

Inspired by his hero Marcus Rashford, Xavier asked his dad if he could use his pocket money to purchase Eric a new pair instead, as he knew it would “make him happy”.

Xavier’s father filmed the moment his son handed over the shiny new pair of boots to Eric – which has since gone viral.

Hundreds of messages have poured in praising Xavier’s altruism.

ADVERTISEMENT

The gesture has even caught the eye of the Manchester United star who ‘inspired’ it all in the first place.

“Now THIS. An act of kindness,” Rashford wrote on social media.

ADVERTISEMENT

The footballer is now working with Granada Reports to “get a gift” to both Xavier and Eric.

Xavier’s dad, Jason Bonney, told ITV: “Xavier didn’t think it was fair that Eric didn’t have any boots, and he’d got a few comments from other kids asking why he was wearing PE pumps and not football boots.

“Xavier knew it would make him happy buy buying him some.”

News

Police appeal after man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Police are appealing for information after a man is found with unexplained ‘serious injuries’ in Manchester’s Chinatown.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 4:50am this past Saturday (26 September), officers were called to Nicholas Street near the Pagoda in Manchester’s Chinatown, where a man was found seriously injured.

The man was quickly rushed to hospital, where he remains receiving treatment while police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding how he came to sustain his injuries.

At this stage, GMP believes there is ‘no wider risk to the community’, however detectives are ‘keeping an open mind’ as enquiries continue.

No arrests have been made at this time, and the man’s identity has not been publicly released.

While enquiries continue at pace, GMP has issued a public appeal for witnesses in a bid to uncover information on the incident.

Detectives say they are are appealing for anyone who was in the area around the Pagoda in Chinatown between 3am and 5am on Saturday 26 September.

Anyone who may have witnessed anything that could assist the investigation is urged to come forward.

Read more:

Can you help? Anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to contact police on 101 or via LiveChat, quoting log 578 of 26/09/2026.

Featured Image – GMP

News

‘Enough is enough’ – Andy Burnham issues emphatic statement on Avanti West Coast nationalisation

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring, the Government has confirmed.

After it was revealed back in 2024 to be the UK’s most ‘unreliable’ train operator, according to a shocking study, with 15.36% of its trains cancelled or delayed on average, it has now been confirmed that Avanti – which runs the West Coast Main Line from Manchester to London – will be transferred over to public ownership in March 2027.

Avanti was controversially awarded a long-term contract to operate the West Coast Main Line in September 2023 – with the contract set to run until 2032 at the latest.

Before this, the company had previously been given until 1 April 2023 to continue running the route, but was told it needed to ‘drastically improve’ its services if it was to stand any chance of having the contract extended further beyond that date.

Despite many customers continuing to voice discontent with level of services during this time, the Department for Transport (DfT) under the previous Conservative government deemed ‘significant improvements had been made’.

Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring / Credit: Avanti (Press Images)

Now though, in the year 2026 with a Labour government in power at Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the helm, it has been confirmed that Avanti West Coast will be nationalised.

The Government says the services will be ‘run in the interests of passengers, not private sector shareholders’.

“From 7 March, taxpayers will no longer be paying fees to a private operator. Instead, every penny will be spent for the benefit of passengers,” the Labour Party said in a statement.

Andy Burnham has also issued his own emphatic statement on the matter.

He wrote on X: “Enough is enough. For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again.

“So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in March next year. That means passengers, not shareholders, will come first.

“More investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right.

“We’re putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.”

Read more:

Andy Mellors, who is the Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, added in his own statement: “Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with the Government to ensure a seamless transition into public ownership while remaining focused on delivering for our customers and communities.”

Featured Image – Avanti (Press Image)

More News

News

Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027

Crowd at football match

News

Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands

Oasis Live '27 - how tickets registration will work for huge Manchester Etihad Stadium run

Audio

Oasis Live ’27 – what to expect if you’re successful for ticket registration in Manchester

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches