In one last bit of retrospective and heartwarming news from 2023, Manchester United footballer Chrisitan Eriksen paid a surprise visit to a local primary school in Stretford this past December.
Rocking up to the St Alphonsus Primary School in Old Trafford, the Man United Foundation‘s partnered school just before the festive period, the Danish midfielder, surprised a wide-eyed group of year five and six students with a day of conversation, fun and games — as well as a bit of footy, of course.
Welcomed by headteacher Tina Birds as part of a joint charity effort with the Foundation and BBC’s Match of the Day, Christian helped with reading, plenty of PE in line with the Premier League Primary Stars programme and even a session of ‘Goalball’: an inclusive sport designed for the visually impaired.
Having been injured for a good chunk of the season and only just returning to first-team football, the 31-year-old was keen to make the most of his time on the sidelines and get involved with the Foundation and the programme delivered across its 28 partnered schools.
Eriksen visits local Manc primary school children. (Credit: Manchester United Foundation)
Christian said of his wholesome morning on 13 December, “It’s amazing to be at the school and see all the kids and what they’ve been doing with the Foundation.
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“The children and their parents come to the stadium and watch games; they give encouragement to us on the pitch, so by coming into the local community and meeting the children, it’s a really nice thing to do. It’s very important for me to give back as a Manchester United player. I’m very pleased to be here.”
Reflecting on the impact of the visit, headteacher Birds said, “It has been a wonderful day. Seeing the children’s reactions to Eriksen walking through and participating in the activities that the Foundation were doing – it was absolutely amazing. I will remember it as a headteacher for a long, long time.
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“Working with the Foundation and the Premier League Primary Stars programme is all about bringing communities together and it’s so important for my school that we are part of this community… it gives the pupils that aspiration that we really instil in school, and that’s what this programme does brilliantly.”
Starstruck St Alphonsus pupil, Siver, said she was “shocked and happy” to meet the Man United star, adding, “I could never have imagined that. I think it’s important because many people look up to him and everyone admires him.”
The visit was filmed for the most recent MotD which was repeated on New Year’s Eve’s morning show.
Throughout each season, the Manchester United Foundation works in partnership with local primary schools around Greater Manchester and beyond to help develop and improve the well-being and life skills of children aged 5-11.
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Working alongside the Premier League Primary Stars programme and in line with the national curriculum, the team’s charity arm addresses physical literacy, healthy lifestyles and the broader curriculum.
Man United’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Collette Roche was announced as the new Chair of the Foundation following the departure of CEO Richard Arnold in November last year and looks to continue the organisation’s important work throughout the local community.
We hope to see more surprise visits from key figures around the club and important initiatives like this in 2024.
Featured Image — Manchester United Foundation (supplied)
Sport
Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this year, and this time, there’s a new spring edition.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo seen success with this event in the past few years, with thousands of runners signing up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences and all funds raised going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.
This year though, the much-loved event’s focus brings conservation ‘a little closer to home’ and will protect some of the UK’s most threatened species instead – with all funds helping to safeguard hedgehogs, kingfishers, otters, harvest mice, and more.
It comes as the UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
Participants will first get to wind through the zoo and enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
Adults can choose from a 10K or 5K route, while younger runners are invited to take part in a one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged four-15, which takes place entirely within the zoo’s incredible 130-acre grounds.
All runners will receive free entry to the zoo for the rest of the day as part of their registration, along with a 25% discount for friends and family who come along to show support.
Chester Zoo’s popular 10K charity run is returns with a new spring date / Credit: Chester Zoo
Lorraine Jubb, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, called the Run For Nature a ‘really special event’.
“In previous years, runners have already supported conservation efforts for Asian elephants, Eastern black rhinos and Northern giraffe,” she explained. This springtime though, we’re turning our attention much closer to home in the UK, and to the wildlife we share our gardens, parks and countryside with.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in the UK, every runner will be playing a vital role in helping us protect animals and supporting our growing nature recovery work across right across Cheshire.
Run For Nature will take place on the new springtime date of Sunday 29 March 2026, and there’s 3,000 places to sign up for.
You can find out more and register on the Chester Zoo website here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Sport
Casemiro is leaving Manchester United at the end of the season
Danny Jones
Manchester United player Casemiro has confirmed that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The veteran CDM and European footballing legend joined Man United back in 2022 for around £70 million from his former team, Real Madrid, where he won everything over the best part of a decade.
Now, Old Trafford fan favourite ‘Cas’ (full name, Carlos Henrique José Francisco Venâncio Casimiro) is set to leave United following the expiration of his current and highly lucrative deal this summer.
Announcing his pending departure in an emotional video, the seasoned Brazilian midfielder admitted that he feels the time is right to leave the club – but not before giving his “everything” in the remainder of the current campaign.
Writing in the caption of the social media post, Casemiro said: “Knowing when stages come to an end. Knowing when to say goodbye when you feel that you will be remembered and respected forever.
“Four months to give my all for this badge and for our goal. Eternal respect and affection for Manchester United and its wonderful fans. Forever Red Devil.”
Responding underneath the partnered post, the club simply wrote: “Once a Red, always a Red.”
Now 33 years old and already being accused of being ‘over the hill’ even when he first landed in Manchester, Casemiro had an impressive first season under Erik ten Hag and quickly became a crucial cog in the squad; arguably, overly relied upon, some would say.
On the other hand, given his age and the fast pace of English football, it’s fair to say he’s done well to keep up with the most competitive league on the planet.
He is also one of the well-paid talents in the Premier League, so while the majority of supporters will be gutted to see him go, the board will still be relieved to see his estimated £350,000-a-week wages taken off the books.
Nevertheless, he is now regularly subbed off around the hour mark for Man United, and it’s not exactly a surprise that he is now preparing to move on. INEOS and their recruitment already look to be searching for reinforcements in the middle of the park.
They are looking to bolster their options as they chase down Champions League qualification
Bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, and now Michael Carrick‘s setup for what’s left of the 2025/26 term, he’s a big presence that will no doubt be missed in the dressing room and on the pitch.
Having scored 21 times in 146 games so far, he will finish the season with more than a century of appearances, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see him chip in with a few more goals before hanging up his red shirt.
Besides being a serial throughout pretty much the rest of his career, the midfield remains a key point of contention at United, and his departure will no doubt mean more talent will need to be brought in at least by the summer.
You can see more of his farewell announcement video down below.
💬 “I will always carry this club with me. I will always be a Manchester United fan.”
Danny Jones -
2nd January 2024 
