An inspirational young football fan from the Greater Manchester area is taking on an incredible running challenge this summer in an effort to help bring sports for those with disabilities to his local team, Altrincham FC.
21-year-old Joseph Adams is an Altrincham superfan with a massive heart and an even bigger love of the beautiful game, and he will soon be tasking himself with a demanding feat of fitness in the hope of helping bring football to his home club for supporters who have special needs.
Diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Joseph has taken part in many adapted sports from football and dancing to skiing, rugby and more, even winning multiple gold medals including one at the 2023 UK Down Syndrome National Swimming Championships.
It’s safe to say that this is a cause very near and dear to both Joe and his family; so, in an effort to help deliver support for special needs activities through Alty FC, the die-hard young Robins fan is setting himself the task of running ten 10ks in a total of ten different countries over the course of just five days.
Joseph has had a defiant and determined attitude to everything since he was a kid. (Credit: GoFundMe/Supplied)
Taking on what he has called the ‘No Limits‘ challenge in the coming weeks, Joseph is aiming to raise a total of £250,000 in order for Altrincham to hire a dedicated disability sports officer role this year.
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As a non-league football club and even with the recent backing from more than 20 new investors, the local Trafford-based outfit obviously doesn’t have unlimited resources, so fundraising efforts like these are their only option.
With that in mind, Joe, his parents and two sisters will be completing the running challenge in less than a week as part of the club’s growing Community Sports charity arm to help establish a programme for children and adults with special needs.
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Having already raised well over a whopping £176k of his overall target, his ultimate goal is to broaden the programme to provide further support, training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities across the local area and beyond Altrincham too.
Speaking about the excitement of his upcoming challenge, Joseph said: “I’m really looking forward to visiting lots of countries and running with my family and I can’t wait for a beer at the finish! […] Think Race Across the World meets Hardest Geezer! I don’t know if I can do it but I am going to try my best.”
⌛️ The countdown is on for 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 – 𝗡𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 💪
It was France for training this week, and yet another fundraising milestone has been reached 😍
Dad Phil Adams said of his inspiring son: “When Joseph was born, his Mum and I were told about all the things he wouldn’t be able to do because he has Down Syndrome, but we vowed to take a no-limits approach to what he could do and 21 years later, we couldn’t be prouder of him…
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“Ironically, he hates running and hadn’t really tried before taking on this latest challenge but what we’ve all learned over the years is that Joseph has been able to achieve a huge amount more than we might have expected when we ignore perceived wisdom.”
A number of Manchester-based businesses such as Castore, Travel Counsellors, Houlihan Lokey, DMR, FK Group and Farrat have lent their support to Joseph’s Challenge and the No Limits campaign, including Altrincham FC’s own official front-of-shirt sponsor, AO.
Founder and CEO, John Roberts alongside his wife Sally, have donated a generous £30k between them to the cause, with Roberts commenting: “The sky really is the limit and Joseph is living that philosophy in spades. He’s an inspiring young man and every one of AO’s 3,000 employees wishes him every success.
The youngster’s incredible journey will conclude as he passes the finish line of the Altrincham 10k on Sunday, 1 September. You can do your bit to help by donating to Joseph Adams and his incredible running challenge, which will help provide important access to sport, HERE.
It has to be said, there is a very wholesome buzz around the J Davidson Stadium lately.
Frank Warren’s special anniversary fight card, featuring local fighters, is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Queensberry Promotions is toasting founder Frank Warren as he marks a major milestone in the industry, with a massive Manchester fight event and plenty of regional boxers on the card.
The 73-year-old entrepreneur and boxing manager is set to hold a landmark fight night in early 2026 as he celebrates four and a half decades in the business.
Being hosted not just the biggest indoor entertainment venue in Manchester, but all of Europe, Co-op Live, the legendary promoter and his company will be welcoming a wealth of both local and global athletes to the arena, which is continuing to attract more live sport and combat sports, specifically.
They’ve put together a fight card with plenty of interest, and the evening is sure to feature plenty of other familiar faces out in the audience, too.
Dubbed ‘The Magnificent 7’, the headline fight will be a face-off between 20-year-old Moses Itauma and American boxer Jermain Franklin.
The heavyweight clash is sure to be a tasty one, with Itauma having now famously defeated veteran Dillian Whyte in a first-round demolition; meanwhile, Frankling is riding a wave of confidence following a trio of consecutive wins.
But while the main event will have plenty of global eyes on, we’ll confess that we’re most excited by the roster of Manc talents on show.
Featuring on the undercard is not only experienced Ashton-born boxer Zak Miller, but 24-year-old ‘Super’ Alex Murphy.
The up-and-coming fighter, who also happens to be a big Bolton Wanderers fan, trains just down the road at Eccles Boxing School and has 14 wins from 16 bouts.
Manchester’s combat sports stars certainly delivered for Queensberry in a recent event at the Co-op earlier this month, and we expect the same next January.
The last Frank Warren-backed event in Manchester didn’t disappoint.
Speaking on the big booking in line with his big anniversary, Warren said in an official statement: “We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026…
“We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.
“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business, and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion. I’m very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses, topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermain Franklin.”
Presale for official Co-op Members goes live from 12 noon on Monday, 17 November, while general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Wednesday (19 Nov); you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Global governing body officially recognises Super League Basketball in positive push for the British game
Danny Jones
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the global governing body for professional basketball, has officially recognised the UK’s Super League Basketball competition.
Formerly known as the British Basketball League, our domestic division has been through quite a turbulent time over the past couple of years, with teams disbanding, rebranding, and the organisation being completely overhauled from the ground up.
One of those in question was our very own local team, now known simply as Manchester Basketball, along with several other teams changing names, badges and more in line with the ‘new dawn’ for pro ball in our country.
Despite the second season of SLB being well underway, this latest chapter has still had a fair amount of teething problems and significant obstacles, with FIBA having previously suspended the British Basketball Federation’s (BBF) from licensing domestic men’s club competitions earlier this year.
Super League Basketball (SLB) is proud to announce that FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, has officially recognised SLB.
It continues: “This landmark decision marks a significant breakthrough for the sport across the UK and allows SLB and its member clubs to accelerate ambitious plans to nurture talent, enhance venues, and expand the top-tier league’s reach both domestically and internationally.
“Crucially, FIBA’s recognition also lifts the ban on Great Britain’s men’s national team competing on the international stage.”
As a result, they go on to explain that the league will now play “a pivotal role in the staging of Great Britain’s FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers fixture on 27 November” – which also serves as a huge plus for elite national programmes, both male and female.
Sanjay Bhandari MBE, who is currently serving as the Interim Independent Chair of Super League Basketball, commented: “We have been working quietly and diligently to secure a sustainable and positive pathway for top-flight basketball in the UK.
“We extend our thanks to the leaders of FIBA’s Task Force for their cooperation and continued support throughout this process. Together, we have reached a solution that gives our clubs the confidence they deserve and provides our fans with peace of mind after a challenging period for the sport…
“FIBA’s recognition is transformative and means that our plans to drive SLB forward as an ambitious, high-growth sports organisation can progress at pace. We look ahead with excitement as we work closely with FIBA, UK Sport and government to ensure the sport achieves the success it deserves across all areas.” With the latest campaign having tipped off in September, they’ve stood tall and steadfast.
The decision comes after a task force with dispatched by FIBA to consult with relevant SLB stakeholders and sporting authorities, which the result being an outcome that benefited both parties: i.e. the body recognising that they represent the best course for “safeguarding the stability and integrity of the sport.”
Sharing their own comment on the watershed breakthrough, FIBA added: “To ensure the stability and continuity of top-tier men’s basketball in Great Britain during this period of suspension, FIBA has entered into a direct recognition agreement with Super League Basketball.
“This agreement provides a framework for the organisation and governance of domestic competitions while preserving regulatory integrity.”
“FIBA, through its Task Force, will continue to work closely with BBF and all relevant stakeholders, including UK Sport and the UK Government, to support BBF in becoming a self-sustaining organisation and to secure the long-term stability and growth of men’s basketball in Great Britain.”
We’re glad this long, drawn-out period of uncertainty has wrapped up in plenty of good time for the competition to now focus on the fast-approaching finals early next year. It’s also a nice bonus that they’re happening right here in Greater Manchester.
Danny Jones -
13th August 2024 
