This week marks a decade since hundreds were arrested in Greater Manchester after "unprecedented levels of violence and criminality" swept the region in summer 2011.
On the morning of 10 August 2011 – when the sirens had switched off, the flames had fizzled out, and the roars had been silenced – hundreds of Mancunians quietly got to work on repairing their shattered city.
Families, students and businesspeople arrived en masse to strap on gloves, grasp brooms and pick up paintbrushes, working together to shovel broken glass out of streets and reattach the frames to shop doorways.
The day before, Manchester and Salford had been swept up in the violence consuming England following the death of Mark Duggan – a 29-year-old who had been shot dead by police earlier in the summer of 2011.
A protest in Tottenham Hale had led to clashes with law enforcement, and the next few days saw trouble spread from the capital into other cities across the country.
Ten years after the 2011 riots, @MENnewsdesk mentions an @OfficialUoM study which found nearly a third of those punished afterwards came from the most deprived areas of Greater Manchester – with not a single person from the richest areas https://t.co/HCiVr75Hf8
The first pockets of local violence erupted in Salford Shopping Centre on the afternoon of August 9. Supermarket Lidl was the first target, before looters proceeded to break into a Bargain Booze and The Money Shop.
Police were pelted with missiles and journalists covering the story were even caught up in the melee; a BBC radio car battered with bricks before being set alight.
Within hours, Manchester city centre’s shops were also under attack – with officers overwhelmed by “unprecedented levels of violence and criminality”.
Mobs broke into Manchester’s Arndale Centre and groups stormed shops like Footasylum, Bang & Olufsen and Swarovski in St Ann’s Square.
Miss Selfridge on Market Street was also engulfed in flames as the outnumbered police desperately battled the masked-up mobs rampaging through the city streets.
The Guardian said it turned into “a tale of two riots” – with Greater Manchester Police’s then-chief constable Peter Fahy suggesting the respective culprits in Salford and Manchester had responded in different ways.
“Certainly most of [the rioting] in Manchester was about getting goods, breaking into places and stealing things,” Fahy told The Guardian.
“Salford I think was slightly different. It was more about attacking us and the fire services.”
The trouble in Greater Manchester dissipated the next day – but the region remained severely shaken.
More than 370 people were arrested, 60 officers were injured, and the total police cost was reportedly more than £3 million.
After the rioting ended elsewhere in England on August 11, it was revealed that more than 200 people had been injured and over 3,000 arrested nationwide. Five people were also killed during the six days of violence.
But according to local Councillor Pat Karney, Greater Manchester’s role in the riots was not reflective of what the region was about. He says it was those next few days – where adults and children were seen flocking to fix the damage – that showed the real GM.
“The true Mancunian spirit has been shown in Manchester today,” the councillor stated, as locals swept away debris and stuffed rubbish into sacks.
“The community has come out to say enough is enough, and that they will not stand by and let thugs try to destroy our city.
“This was pure criminal behaviour from a minority of people who were intent on looting and rioting and these criminals are not fit to be called Mancunians.”
Salford City FC confirm former Manchester United shirt sponsor as latest commercial partner
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have announced a former Manchester United financial partner and well-known shirt sponsor as their latest commercial partner.
The local League Two, helmed by the consortium consisting of ex-Man United players most commonly known as the ‘Class of ’92’, now share even more in common with the Red Devils beyond just the colour of their shirt and some old personnel.
However, the Greater Manchester side has struggled to progress in recent years, so the owners have continued to look to generate further revenue when it comes to the business off the pitch; cue the return of a familiar logo and, arguably, one of the most recognisable sponsors to ever feature on a footy kit.
While it may not be featuring pride of place on the front of their shirt – that position still belongs to Fireball Whisky following their July 2024 deal – as it once did for Manchester United, Salford City have welcomed the American International Group (AIG) as a new minority equity investor.
Announcing the collaboration on social media, the ambitious Ammies wrote: “AIG’s investment in the Club is a powerful endorsement of the model we’re building, aligning world-class partners with a football-first vision grounded in ambition and long-term commitment.
“Together, we’re accelerating Salford’s next chapter and laying the foundation for lasting success, on and off the pitch.” AIG were paired up with MUFC from the 2006/07 campaign to the end of the 2009/10.
AIG are the first Fortune 500 company to back a League Two outfit in EFL history.
Beyond already being a multi-national insurance group, they were famously partnered with one of the most decorated Man United teams of all-time and therefore share part of the visual legacy by serving as the front-of-shirt sponsor for one of the most iconic shirts of all time.
We’re of course referring to the 2007 home jersey, which was worn by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes and more as they won the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, before the kit was kept for 08/09 as well.
Of course, the firm itself is no stranger to sporting crossovers; as well as sponsoring Manchester United at the peak of their powers, they also sponsor the likes of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the AIG Women’s Open and lots more golf in Ireland.
Speaking on the new deal, SCFC co-chair Declan Kelly, added: “Partnering with AIG, a world-class organisation under the outstanding vision and leadership of Chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino, represents another major step forward in the evolution of Salford City FC.
“It proves what’s possible when global investment aligns with a football-first approach. AIG is committed to helping Salford achieve its vision of becoming the best small club in the world, and their investment, both financially and strategically, will help accelerate our next phase of progress.”
With Salford having called for new investors in February 2024, this is the kind of backing they were no doubt hoping for, with AIG also expected to help fund key upgrades to the Peninsula Stadium and more.
As for on the pitch, there’s been plenty of movement in the transfer market already this summer window, with the return of a highly-rated young goalkeeper being one that has delighted fans in particular.
Featured Images — Salford City (via club website/via X)
Salford
The Salmon of Knowledge – An Irish pub has opened at MediaCity for the first time ever
Daisy Jackson
For the first time in MediaCity’s history, there’s a new Irish boozer now open for business.
It’s a third site for The Salmon of Knowledge, which also operates busy pubs in the Northern Quarter and in Didsbury, making part of the infamous Didsbury Dozen pub crawl.
The new pub at MediaCity threw open its doors last week, serving legendary Irish fare like Guinness and spice bags (skin on fries, tossed in house seasoning with buttermilk chicken tenders, fried onions and sliced chillies).
The Salmon of Knowledge opened at the Salford hub over the weekend, with a packed schedule of traditional and contemporary live acts, as well as sporting events shown on the big screen.
It’s still operated and owned by the same team behind Dockyard, which previously stood on this site and was part of Salford Quays for 13 years.
Joe Foster, Managing Director of Northern Lights Group, is behind the original Dockyard and the brains behind the other Salmon locations.
He says the pub will have ‘the same local soul and community spirit lives on, just with a bit more Irish charm this time round’.
Stephen Kirk, Head of Asset Management at MediaCity said: “The Salmon of Knowledge is one of the many businesses joining us at MediaCity during our phase of growth and we’re particularly proud to be supporting homegrown talent, after their successful debut in the Northern Quarter.
“We are confident that the new opening will help us work towards our aim of bettering our spaces, not just for businesses, but also for our residents and visitors.”
Joe Foster, Managing Director of Northern Lights Group, the team behind The Salmon of Knowledge said:“We’ve felt the love in the Northern Quarter, and now it’s time to bring the magic to MediaCity.
“Salford’s got soul, and we can’t wait to add to the soundtrack with great tunes, great food and, of course, great Guinness.”
For more food and drink news, follow @themanceats on Instagram.
The Manc -
10th August 2021 
