Sport

Women’s captain and ‘club legend’ Katie Zelem is leaving Manchester United on a free transfer

She came straight back when the club reformed and has been their ever since.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th June 2024

The exodus at Manchester United Women continues as team captain Katie Zelem confirms she will be leaving after seeing out her contract.

Zelem has been with Man United for six years and was appointed captain in her second season with the club, helping lead the side to their first trophy since reforming with the Women’s Championship title in 2018/19 and overseeing their first major honour by lifting the FA Cup last month.

The Oldham-born midfielder made 161 appearances and scored 32 goals for the Red Devils and has remained one of the most influential leadership figures throughout various iterations of the squad.

Having started out her career as a youngster wearing the iconic shirt, it was huge for the club and the fans to have her return years later and go on to wear the armband for half a decade.

Zelem becomes the latest player to leave the club on a free transfer after Lionesses no.1 and United keeper Mary Earps is set to move to PSG at the end of the month, alongside Spanish forward Lucía García following their contracts expiring.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only will the departures come as a gutting blow for the supporters, with the 28-year-old being one of the most notable talents remaining from the Casey Stoney era, but it also marks another key player outgoing from which the club have failed to recoup any money.

This has been labelled as one of the biggest shortcomings club-wide, with the men’s team also letting big names run down their contracts and leave on a free for many years: women’s star Alessia Russio last season, then most recently the likes of David de Gea, Antony Martial and Raphaël Varane.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for ‘Zel’, it’s not lost on the fan base or pundits as to how much of a loss the England international who achieved so much in Europe and in red will be not just on the pitch but in the dressing room too.

The Athletic‘s Jessy Parker Humphreys wrote on social media: “Personally think that Katie Zelem is the biggest loss for United this summer. Not just club captain but a player who has embodied what United should be about and is still in my opinion underrated. Not someone easy to replace on a quality level or a leadership one.”

Read more:

Bidding farewell to the academy graduate and club servant who joined aged just 8, Manchester United Women said of Zelem leaving: “From our inception to our first major trophy and everything in between. She’s been with us through it all. Today we bid farewell to a legend.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Everyone at Manchester United would like to place on record their thanks to Katie for her excellent service and wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her career”.

With supporters having called for manager Marc Skinner to be replaced even despite their FA Cup win, fans have once again been left concerned following reports that the women’s team had been forced to move into portable facilities to make room for the men whilst Carrington undergoes a major refurb.

Neither Zelem nor García have issued any kind of statement addressing exactly why they are leaving or why potential contract extensions/new deals couldn’t be reached (though Earps did somewhat suggest that the ball was in the club’s court), but many believe less-than-ideal circumstances like this and prioritising one squad over the other may have factored players leaving.

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

Featured Images — James Boyes (via Flickr)/Man United Women/Katie Zelem (via Instagram)

Sport

Tributes pour in for chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, Tommy Muir

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tommy Muir dead tributes

Tributes are pouring in following the death of Tommy Muir, the long-standing chairman of Manchester City’s ‘Cheadle Blues’ supporters club, at the age of 71.

News of Muir’s death broke on Thursday, 21 November, with countless Man City fans learning of his tragic passing online and proceeding to pay their respects.

The Cheadle Branch boss, lifelong supporter and well-known club figure is said to have died following a period of illness, with a member of the popular Bluemoon Forum claiming he suffered from the progressive disease pulmonary fibrosis for some time.

Numerous messages of sadness, love and support have been shared on social media already.

By all accounts, Muir will be remembered as a much-loved leader of City’s Cheadle Branch, as well as a generous character with a great sense of humour.

There are countless messages from people who know him from the local area or through helping sort spare tickets for matchdays and as the familiar face around Maine Road back in the day and on the bus to the Etihad Stadium for many years.

Tommy was also one of the official supporters group members who were treated to a visit by Man City themselves, naming him honorary Life Vice President of the Official Supporters Club and bringing the Treble trophies to his doorstep back in July 2023.

He also famously face-timed with Kevin de Bruyne back in 2018, during which he said, “I want to watch this City team for 100 years.”

Muir, an ex-Royal Mail worker, also served as the landlord of The Kenilworth pub back in Cheadle, Stockport, where fans would regularly meet pre-match before heading to watch the game.

Local author and historian of Manchester sport, Gary James, wrote on Facebook: “I’ve just seen this news… Sad to hear the news that Tommy Muir has died. A wonderful person who first helped me with my research decades ago. A dedicated MCFC fan. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Speaking to The Manc, General Secretary of City’s Official Supporters Club, Kevin Parker told us: Tommy was a blue through and through and 100% committed to The Supporters Club at Cheadle and its members.

“I have known Tommy for over 30 years and no one deserved the recent success the club has had more than him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and fondly remembered. He will still be watching our wonderful club from the Blue Stands in the Sky telling anyone who disrespects his Club to ‘do one'”

Known to so many throughout the fan base, even supporters who never met him personally have been sharing their condolences on various platforms. Those who knew him well have nothing but heartwarming memories to share.

Read more:

Fan forums like Bluemoon have been awash with people mourning Muir’s passing. One person told the story of meeting him at the age of 17 and following him when moved to The George and Dragon pub – another popular City haunt before games.

Another wrote: “I got to know Tommy when I joined the Cheadle Supporters branch. Tommy loved being branch secretary. He was absolutely dedicated to his position as branch secretary […] The branch meetings were serious affairs, getting through what had to be discussed, but in between was humour and laughter brought about by Tommy.

“Tommy had a huge sense of humour, and his one-liners were famous amongst the branch members, which would have everyone laughing throughout the meetings. The coach trips to the away games were never dull. They were always full of cheer, drinking, laughter, and City songs.”

“Keep on watching your beloved City from above. Rest in peace, Tommy.”

Losses like this within a fan base are always tough to take. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, the Cheadle Branch and all the Blues whose lives he touched. RIP Tommy Muir.

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

Featured Images – Bluemoon Forum/X

Sport

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet named coach of the year after historic quadruple-winning season

Danny Jones Danny Jones Matt Peet wins SJA Committee coach of the year award after quadruple-winning season

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet has been named coach of the year by the Sports Journalists’ Association Committee (SJA) following his record-breaking season with the champions.

Peet led the Greater Manchester side to four Grand Slams in a single calendar year, a feat never seen before in the Super League era, achieving the historic feat with a Grand Final win over Hull KR at Old Trafford last month.

In recognition of his incredible 2024 campaign in charge of the Warriors, the Wigan-born local hero was awarded the SJA Committee Award, handed over to the most outstanding coach each year, on Wednesday, 20 November for the second time in his career.

The 40-year-old won the prestigious accolade during his first season with the club back in 2022 but it’s fair to say this one will feel even more special.

The Warriors began the season by defeating Penrith Panthers at The Brick Community Stadium to lift a record-equalling fifth World Club Challenge before success in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final saw Wigan beat fellow North West outfit, Warrington Wolves, at Wembley Stadium in June.

Having sealed the League Leaders’ Shield following a final-round win against local rivals Salford Red Devils, the Warriors then went on to beat Hull – who were competing in their first Grand Final – to become the first team of the Super League era to lift all four trophies within the space of just 12 months.

Speaking on the award via an official club statement, Peet said: “I’m very proud and very grateful to be selected by the committee. It reflects really well on our organisation, our club, players and rugby league in general.

“We never set out with an ambition to win the quadruple, we just set out to improve and learn. It’s not an award rugby league is synonymous with, so to know our sport is getting some recognition, it makes me very proud to be at the forefront of it.”

He went on to tell Sky Sports that it was the “energy and the atmosphere” of Wigan that helped get them across the line after so many games, insisting that they “had the whole town behind [them]”.

Read more:

It’s a truly fantastic achievement and to have the award brought home to Greater Manchester once again is wonderful news no matter who you support.

The fixtures for the 2025 Super League season are set to be released tomorrow (Thursday, 21 November), with the action getting underway in February as usual. The Summer Festival of Rugby League will also return after a year off with a blockbuster May Bank Holiday weekend in Newcastle.

Not only will it be a decade since the event was first held in the Toon but it also marks the Magic Weekend’s 18th birthday.

As for SJA coach of the year Matt Peet and the Warriors, it’s looking like a question of just how many titles can they defend next year.

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

Featured Images — Sky Sports

More Sport

Pep stay at Man City for one more year new deal

News

Pep Guardiola agrees new contract to stay at Manchester City for at least one more year

Tommy vs Darren Till press conference scrap chaos

News

Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into foul-mouthed chaos

Manchester United stadium sleepout raises £30l for local homeless community

Manchester

Manchester United’s latest Stadium Sleep Out raises £30k for the homeless and vulnerable young people

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches