A charity football match played last month in honour of the Manchester Arena attack victims and their families has raised over £80,000.
With this year marking five years since the bombing that saw 22 people tragically lose their lives on 22 May 2017, the Manchester Remembers match was played ahead of the anniversary last month at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium – with star-studded teams of ex-professionals and celebrities lacing up their boots for the occasion.
Famous Manc comedian Jason Manford played for the celebrity team on the day, alongside Bolton-born actor, comedian, and TV presenter Paddy McGuiness, while ex-Manchester City stars Shaun Goater and Trevor Sinclair featured for the former players team, along with other ex-professionals Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Wes Brown, and Clayton Blackmore.
‘King of the Jungle’ Danny Miller, Love Island star Callum Jones, and comedian Steve Royle also played for the celebrities team.
Former Manchester City players Peter Reid and Joe Royle were in charge of coaching the celebrities’ team, and longtime football manager ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce headed up the team of ex-players.
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The Manchester Remembers match was played on Sunday 3 April at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium / Credit: MCR Remembers (via Twitter)
The Manchester Remembers match was put together by local business owner Paul Corrigan and firefighter Aaron Lee – who was one of the first responders to attend the scene of the incident, and who had already raised over £40,000 for charities and also established the ‘Hive 22 Running Club’ in the aftermath of the Arena attack.
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And now there is a further £82,492 from the match to add to the already-impressive total.
Taking to Twitter to announce the final fundraising total now that it’s all been tallied up, MCR Remembers thanked everyone “for all your support”, and confirmed that all benefitting charities will receive £16,498 each.
Worth the wait…
£8️⃣2️⃣,4️⃣9️⃣2️⃣.0️⃣0️⃣ !!
Eighty Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety Two pounds !!!
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) May 16, 2022
The funds were raised for five different charities set up by the families of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack – Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, Liv’s Trust, The Megan Hurley Foundation, The Remembering Nell Foundation, and Eilidh’s Trust.
“What happened on that night shocked not just Manchester but the world,” Aaron Lee said ahead of the match.
“We had to do something special and remember those that were so sadly taken from their families and felt launching a city-wide football game would help us raise funds that could really make a difference.”
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Emily Sergeant -
18th May 2022 
