Manchester United have just released their new third kit for the 2024/25 season and the shirt itself looks to be going down a treat, but the new advert featuring none other than actor Barry Keoghan has proved to be the real star of the show.
The white adidas Originals kit actually debuted a day prior to the lengthy ad being rolled out, but United had already shared a teaser of Keoghan, a lifelong fan, last week after reports he had been picked for the lead role back in June.
Designed around the central feature of the familiar flag used by the Red Army and various other supporters’ groups around the club, the shirt and the retro tracksuit that has been released alongside it both revolve around adidas’ trademark three stripes and that iconic colour scheme: red, white and black.
Running for nearly two and a half minutes, it channels the magic of iconic footy adverts like Nike’s Joga Bonito, those noughties Pepsi ads, the best of Man United’s kit launch videos down the years, only with all the nostalgia of 90s Manchester scene. Safe to say people have fallen in love with it.
Regardless of whether you’re a Red or not, you have to admit it feels like a real throwback and the cameos alone make for a great watch.
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Filmed around the old Cliff Training Ground in Salford – where the team used to train before moving to Carrington – there’s all manner of references to the club’s history, and the filmic quality to the whole thing makes it feel like something pulled straight out of the era itself.
As Irish reporter Gavan Reilly wrote on X: “Barry at Fergie’s desk. The three lads sitting atop the dugout. Linesman Jaap. Mainoo and Robson. Højlund and Irwin. Amad’s celebration. Garnacho’s grimace. Luke Shaw (probably) getting injured giving fistbumps. A magnificent piece of work.”
The outpouring of positive reactions online is endless; one person wrote: “Everything about this is class with the 90s feel to it and ‘Born Slippy’ [by Underworld] in the background over the commentary is chef’s kiss, while another joked: “If United can get Barry Keoghan to actually dress well, they can absolutely win a quadruple this season…”
A third person added: “Last big advert was Roy Keane, this time Barry Keoghan. The Irish lads are doing well out of Man United. I like the ad. Pulling on the history of the club.” We could go on but you get the gist – fans love it.
You couldn’t put it better than the consensus has on social media, with, “They always drag you back in with stuff like this”, “Reminds you why you love football and why you love this club. Sensational”, and many other comments to this effect to be found in the replies.
United and several other big clubs such as Real Madrid, Arsenal, Juventus and more will be wearing special adidas Originals kits featuring the classic trefoil logo this season, but we dare say very few will be showing there’s off there’s with an advert starring Barry Keoghan.
Mixing nostalgia and football will always be a winning formula and even Manchester City revealed their throwback 99-inspired away kit earlier this month, but like any kid who watched the old-school campaigns on the telly, adverts like these always stay with you.
Featured Images — adidas/Manchester United (screenshots via YouTube)
Sport
Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United are booed off after Malaysia friendly
Danny Jones
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a fairly brutal response after his club were booed off by supporters during a friendly in Malaysia.
The Red Devils recently embarked on a post-season tour following a calamitous 2024/25 campaign, both domestically and continentally, with that limp loss in the Europa League final, but have already resumed what has become alarmingly normal service with yet another defeat.
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur – a squad comprised of various talents from around the region who had never played together before and were only founded as an actual team back in 2014 – it was all far from clean slates and fresh starts.
In the wake of the shock result, Man United were booed off by the Malaysian and other international fans inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw more than 70,000 in attendance.
It’s the end and that’s it. Man United got boo’ed by the fans after the final whistle.
They got beaten by non-full team Asean All-Star who just trained together as a group few days before the match. pic.twitter.com/fBxnMiZPN8
For context, the ASEAN All-Stars had only trained together for the first time just days before the game itself, but the de facto exhibition outfit still managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute against a United side that rarely looked like scoring.
All that being said, Amorim had some choice words for his own players in his post-match duties after their first post-season tour fixture, insisting that while he always remains accountable, those out on the pitch perhaps received somewhat of a deserved reckoning too.
He began by stating, “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. [I have been responsible] since the first day”, but went on to argue: “The boos from the fans, I think it something that we need, maybe.”
Citing that the Old Trafford faithful and die-hard away fans have always been loyal and supportive despite frustration in the league, he suggested that “maybe they will change the way they behave” following this latest reality check.
Despite adding that he has seen reasons for optimism in performances against Man City and Liverpool, for instance, where he felt he saw “belief” and seeds of what’s to come, he’s made very few excuses for the poor displays up to now.
United face the Hong Kong national team in their next friendly on Friday, 29 May, and it’s fair to say anything less than a win would be beyond bad for the predictably unpredictable Premier League club.
You can see his full post-match press conference down below.
Featured Images — Manchester United (screenshot via YouTube)/Edward Kuruvilla (via X)
Sport
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Danny Jones -
14th August 2024 
