The brother of former Wythenshawe Town FC player Ross Aikenhead has shared a gutwrenching tribute to his younger sibling who tragically died last week.
Aikenhead, from Sale in Trafford, was found unresponsive on Saturday, 30 March morning and paramedics said he had suffered a seizure before he passed away overnight. Ross had suffered from epilepsy for the past decade. He was just 24 years old.
Described as a “terrific footballer” and a “beautiful boy with an infectious smile” by his dad John, fellow non-league clubs and loved ones, countless football fans and Greater Mancunians have been paying their respects on social media.
None more heartbreaking, though, than the lengthy statement written by his older brother Luke, who paid a truly touching tribute to the carefree soul.
Starting off by stating that the emotions are “like nothing I have ever experienced before”, he said his thoughts have already turned to how difficult birthdays and holidays are going to be, recognising that “life will never again be normal”.
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Going on to admit that he is unsure of how he and his family will deal with the loss, he said, “This is ok. In a way, I wouldn’t want it any other way. As deep as the pain is, it makes sense. It shows me what Ross means to me and the love I have for him, and this provides much more solace”.
Continuing to write in an unbelievably eloquent manner given how raw Ross’ death still is, Aikenhead went on to reference heartwarming anecdotes that paint a perfectly human and everyday existence, joking that on his final night, he was “excited to go home and eat an Easter egg”, adding that “he left the world blissfully unaware and that is befitting”.
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He summed up his younger brother by saying that while he will “never know of the goals he will score, the nephews and nieces he will miss” and the holidays he’ll never go on, he never sweated the small stuff in life and, as his dad reassured him, he’ll go on to “be more Ross” – i.e. losing stuff, being late and putting ketchup on his Sunday dinner.
Luke signs off by confessing: “In true brotherly fashion, it was rare I told Ross I loved him, but he knew and that’s enough for me… To have three brothers with three separate friendship groups that have all come together to form one big, weird, daft group is a rare and beautiful thing”.
We won’t recite his admirably vulnerable letter but sincerely urge you to read it in full; it’s a very emotional read but serves as a great reminder to treasure those close to you every second you get.
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Ross Aikenhead was also a cousin of local boxer Pat Brown, who recently qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the fellow Sale native sharing Winsford FC’s tribute on his Instagram story.
Rest in peace to a lovely young man who seems to have overwhelmingly left a positive and lasting impression on everyone he met.
Featured Images — Wythenshawe FC/Winsford United (via X)
Sport
Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Danny Jones
Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, located over at the ever-growing Etihad Campus, has finally been given a name ahead of its launch later this year.
Alongside the recently announced and Radisson-run hotel, Medlock Square will see the Manchester City-partnered mini leisure district aim to become a new must-visit part of the city.
Hoping to draw in crowds beyond just matchdays and those heading to concerts across the way, approximately £300 million is being pumped into the project.
With Co-op Live having already brought huge revenues into Greater Manchester, it isn’t just set to be a pricey development, but one that will look to serve as yet another money spinner for the wider City Football Group (CFG) and the City Region.
Credit: CFG (supplied)
Unveiling the first CGIs of the square this week, this new area will essentially see attractions and activities spill out of the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live and the soon-to-open Medlock hotel and on to the campus as a whole.
With other parts of Sportcity already revolving around the footballing epicentre, such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Squash Centre, this will not only see even more sporting events and supporters brought to the roughly 80-acre plot, but also fans of various other forms of entertainment.
For instance, within the plans that already include the food and drink offerings you would expect – with Radisson Blu backing more of the relaxation and indulgent side of things – other activities include everything from “an adrenaline-fuelled sky walk experience”, as well as zip-wire and abseiling.
We already knew about some of these from the details in Man City’s stadium expansion plans (including the likes of The Medlock and rooftop bar), and glimpses of the impending hotel opening gave us a better idea of the overall look, but there looks to be plenty more in the pipeline.
You can see a trailer for what they have in mind for Medlock Square down below.
Welcome to Medlock Square. Manchester’s newest entertainment destination. A place where mouthwatering cuisine and world class entertainment, experiences and events converge. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/4bC7NQbMHT
As per an official press release by the fledgling team, more information on further business and employment opportunities has also now been confirmed, centring around the new ‘One Medlock Square’ structure that will be built on the campus.
“Designed to accommodate up to 300 employees, the state-of-the-art workspace will offer high-quality, modern office facilities alongside access to shared event spaces and wellness amenities, uniquely positioned within Manchester’s most exciting new destination”, the statement reads.
There’s certainly some ambitious stuff in the works, put it that way.
And, of course, these will also slot into a renovated club shop turned meagstore, an all-new Man City museum, the Co-op arena, live music and other open-air events, just to name a few. A specific opening date is yet to be scheduled, but you can guarantee it’ll be a big deal when it does launch.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via City Football Group)
Sport
The EFL Championship set to expand playoffs to six teams in controversial move
Danny Jones
The English Football League (EFL) has confirmed that it will be expanding the Championship playoffs to six teams moving forward.
In one of the biggest changes, not just to the second tier but the domestic football pyramid in some time, it’s so far divided opinion – and that’s putting it mildly.
Starting from next season, the Championship will see half a dozen compete in its final knockout phase, meaning that the conclusion to the 2026/27 campaign has the potential to be even tastier than ever.
Besides the increased competition this will bring to the division itself, in turn, it could also help further mix things up in the Premier League too.
Revealing the watershed news on Thursday, 5 March, the EFL shared the update online, which has certainly left fans split over the decision.
Well, in truth, it seems the majority have been left shocked and angered by the announcement, with many responding with comments like, “Who asked for this?” and “Final nail in the coffin”, as well as citing “money” and “nothing but greed” as the main drivers for the changes.
EFL clubs obviously voted for the big shake-up as the added chance of fighting their way into the top flight will no doubt benefit them financially.
It remains to be seen whether this could signal similar adjustments made further down the ranks.
However, as many replied under the posts on social media, one key fear is that a team finishing in 8th – the new threshold for making it into the playoff stages – will be “slaughtered in the Prem” and that, if anything, it will highlight and/or widen the gap between the two leagues even more.
Most simply said that the current system is just “fine as it is” and “if ain’t broke don’t fix it”, but it looks like the wheels are already well and truly in motion.
Ruining the game. Finish 6th and have a chance to get promoted. People in charge are needing rid off. Every part of English football has out of touch people in charge coming up with awful ideas to keep their pay and clubs just go along with it. Tweet from 1987
Pure greed. Ultimately downgrades the look of the championship too when a team will inevitably finish 8th, probably a good 15-20 points behind autos and go up. Then get the lowest Premier League points ever
Safe to say that this is just a small taste of the overall reactions and almost universal consensus…
As detailed in the official statement by the EFL, Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said: “Since their introduction in 1986/87, the Play-Offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.
“Following several months of discussion with Clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more Clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”
They also clarified that “the exact final format will be agreed later in 2026.”
Are you a fan of a Championship club? Even if not, what do you make of the impending and controversial changes kicking off this year?
It’s mad how the EFL can sort a vote to increase the promotion opportunities for Championship clubs to the PL – yet still nothing on a second automatic place from the National League to L2.
No club promoted from the NL to L2 has ever come straight back down… https://t.co/tXy7aSOZ3l
Danny Jones -
5th April 2024 
