Sport

Christian Eriksen among those wearing protest kits at 2022 Qatar World Cup

He and his countrymen will be making a quiet but considered statement.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th October 2022

Manchester United and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is set to be one of several players who will be wearing a protest shirt against the 2022 Qatar World Cup during the tournament this winter.

The 30-year-old and his teammates will be donning the special jersey after his country became the latest to voice their opposition against the Qatari state and the numerous controversies surrounding this year’s World Cup.

In order to make a statement on the biggest stage, the Nordic nation has collaborated with its kit manufacturer Hummel to create a bespoke and crucially understated shirt for this year’s competition.

As confirmed in a collaborative statement shared by the sports brand on Instagram, the kit itself is not only a throwback to the Euro ’92 winning team “but also a protest against Qatar and its human rights record.”

As explained in the caption: “we’ve toned down all the details for Denmark’s new World Cup jerseys, including our logo and iconic chevrons. We don’t wish to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives.”

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Denmark isn’t the only nation that has expressed its dismay in Qatar 2022 going ahead despite suppressive laws surrounding gender and sexuality, abuse and death of migrant workers building the stadiums, as well as various other marks against their human rights record.

Though they didn’t qualify for this year’s tournament, Norway were one of the first to call for a boycott against the Gulf nation hosting the World Cup and United legend David Beckham has also come under criticism for promoting the country’s tourism board.

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While many have flagged that protesting a tournament they are still participating in is somewhat hypocritical, they have responded by stating that they “support the Danish national team all the way [and] that isn’t the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation.”

They concluded by declaring: “We believe that sport should bring people together. And when it doesn’t, we want to make a statement.”

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Denmark’s World Cup group (D) is completed by Australia, Tunisia and reigning world champions, France. Eriksen himself will be hoping to stay fit for the World Cup and for no further health problems after having collapsed during Denmark’s game against Finland at Euro 2020.

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The Dane has been a mainstay in Erik ten Hag‘s United side ever since joining in the summer and following his ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) surgery, still looks to be one of the first names on the team sheet for his country.

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Featured Image — Christian Eriksen (via Instagram)

Sport

A young cancer survivor is taking on the Great Manchester Run for the hospital that saved her life

Danny Jones Danny Jones Young Manchester cancer survivor running the Great Manchester Run 10k for The Christie hospital

A former cancer patient from Manchester who was diagnosed at the age of just 17 is taking on this year’s Great Manchester Run on behalf of The Christie, the hospital she credits with helping save her life.

24-year-old Lea Abell from Failsworth is set to run the event for the first time on Sunday, 26 May to raise funds for The Christie Charity where she now works after completing her treatment.

Lea was sadly diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma cancer back in March 2017 and had to undergo intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at The Christie’s TYA (Teenage and Young Adult) unit.

Thankfully, she showed plenty of Manc spirit even at such a young age and in September 2018, Lea was told her treatment had been successful and is now looking to dedicate her efforts this May to the local life-saving institution.

Lea (Credit: The Christie)
Credit: The Manc Group)
Thousands took on the Great Manchester Run in honour of the Christie in 2023 (Credit: The Christie/The Manc Group)

After so much support and care from The Christie during her time there, the youngster decided that she wanted to give back and be a part of it all herself, going on to become part of the foundation’s mass participation events team – hence where the Great Manchester Run comes in.

Speaking on the hospital and the ward she spent her time in, specifically, Lea said: “The TYA, where do start? They are absolutely amazing! Every single member of staff from Julie the receptionist to Hanna Simpson, the head nurse and all of the other doctors and nurses were incredible.

“They make you feel so at home, and they support you mentally and physically throughout your treatment – they are all so positive, so you don’t feel like you’re going there for cancer treatment. I really wouldn’t have got through it if it wasn’t for the people there, so I owe them everything!

“Hanna and Julie always went out of their way to check up on me and tried to make my days better in any way they could, and I’ll never forget that.” Having turned up with the events team to the Great Manchester Run last year and seeing what a “brilliant day” it was, she decided 2024 was her year.

She’s becoming the latest among the hordes who run on behalf of The Christie at events across the globe every year.

Having only recently started her running journey this year and with the popular running event just around the corner, it’ll be a massive achievement for the young survivor and her team at the charity, with plenty of people backing her and a simple aim in mind: raise as much money as possible.

Lea has only recently started her running journey this year, so to take on the Great Manchester Run will be a big achievement for her, but she has plenty of people in her corner.

She went on to add: “My immediate family includes my mum Nicola, my dad Gary, and my brother and sister Jake and Sophia who were all there for me during treatment, and they will be there on the day of the Great Manchester Run to cheer me on alongside my other family members and friends.”

You’re going to absolutely smash it, Lea, we know it.

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As for the charity themselves, The Christie’s mass participation events development manager, Lindsey Farthing, added: “Lea is a valuable member of our team and we’re all really touched that she has chosen to run the Manchester 10K for our charity.

To have a member of staff in our team who has been treated at The Christie and wants to give something back to the organisation that saved her life is really special for us all. We couldn’t be prouder of her and we wish her all the very best.”

If you want to help do your bit, you can donate to Lea’s fundraiser HERE and be sure to turn up in your droves come race day to cheer her on along with the thousands of runners raising money for charity.

These are the days when Greater Manchester is truly at its best.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Christie/Supplied

Sport

Club captain and ‘legend’ Paddy Madden bids fond farewell as he prepares to leave Stockport County

Danny Jones Danny Jones Paddy Madden bids emotional goodbye as he leaves Stockport County

Paddy Madden has said farewell to Stockport County after announcing that he will leave Edgeley Park this summer, bidding an emotional goodbye to his teammates and the adoring fans who have already as a “club legend”.

The Irishman joined County in March 2021 and won the National League title in his first full campaign with the club, going on to net a total of 65 goals in 155 appearances for the Hatters, including four hat-tricks in all competitions this season alone.

Scoring 17 times for County throughout their promotion-winning year, his second with the club in just three short seasons, not to mention grabbing six assists, he was without a doubt one of Dave Challinor‘s most crucial players and has been ever since he arrived in Stockport.

Jumping on social media after the club announced that their captain and fellow fan favourites Myles Hippolyte, Ryan Croasdale and several others will depart following their contracts expiring, Madden was full of nothing but positivity about his time in blue.

Madden writes: “Stockport County, thank you so much for an amazing three years, me and my family have loved every minute of it. Being your captain was an honour. To play a part in getting such a big club back in the EFL and then into League One has given me memories I will never forget.

“To my teammates I had the honour of sharing the pitch with, I couldn’t ask any more from all of you, you kept your standards high from day one and that kept us on track to reach our goals.

“To the coaching staff, thank you for pushing the squad every day and to the staff behind the scenes a big thank you for your hard work, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Last but not least, thank you to you County fans for the amazing support from the first day I arrived. I’m over the moon to see the club back in League One, you all deserve it so much for sticking with your club in the dark days. Up the County.” It’s no secret how much the fans are going to miss their captain either.

Paddy Madden made himself a County legend in just three years.
The failure to extend his stay hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
They were already putting his name next to the word ‘legend’ back in 2022.

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As for the club themselves, despite attempting to sign a new deal for the 34-year-old – who now goes down as County’s 10th all-time leading goalscorer and is still the third most prolific in the history of the third division (114) – they said that “both parties could not come to a satisfactory agreement.”

Madden is now being linked with a move to Chesterfield FC who have just climbed out of the National League as County’s number nine did back in 2021 and would be set to join Will Grigg up front, who sits just four in front of him in all-time League One goals.

Reacting to his bittersweet departure, the Hatters added: “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. The defining signing of the Mark Stott era, and forever a Stockport County legend. Thank you so much for everything, Starman.”

While the Hatters will no doubt miss out on his experience as they return to League One after 12 years away, they’re still in very good hands up front with top scorer Isaac ‘Tanto’ Olaofe managing 22 goals this season and they have plenty of strong candidates for a replacement captain too.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Stockport County (via Instagram)/Paddy Madden (via Twitter)

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