You may not have noticed, but esports has become just as respected and almost as popular as traditional real-world sports.
Esports athletes train for and compete in major tournaments all around the world, and many countries have their own esports teams. Do not underestimate how big esports is becoming. According to Statista, the industry will generate a revenue of around £1.5 billion by 2022.
One growing trend in recent years has been for established football clubs to launch esports teams in an effort to keep up with the millennial generation. Most football club esports teams play FIFA football video games, but some play other games. For example, FC Copenhagen plays in Counter-Strike competitions while Schalke 04 have played in League of Legends esports tournaments. As for our local Manchester City FC, the club has been competing in FIFA esports events since 2016.
An Overview of the Manchester City Esports Team
Manchester City began creating its own esports team when it signed Kieran Brown in 2016. The club soon started competing in the FIFA eWorld Cup, which includes playing video games from Electronic Arts’ FIFA franchise. The FIFA eWorld Cup structure is similar to the real-life World Cup in that it includes qualification and knockout stages. People even bet on the outcomes of the games.
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While many people enjoy playing online puzzle games, video games, and MMORPGs, as well as casino games like those available at Casumo UK, few have what it takes to become an esports superstar. But Manchester City now has two dedicated players who are regarded as some of the greatest esports athletes in the world: Shaun “Shellzz” Springette and Ryan Pessoa. Shellzz represents Manchester City by playing games on Xbox while Pessoa represents the club by playing games on PlayStation. They represent Manchester City at major esports events around the world. City also now has esports teams based in South Korea and China.
Since the esports team’s founding, they have experienced successes and losses in a similar vein to the main Man City club. But the esports team has most definitely made large strides forwards in recent times to enhance its standing in the world of esports. After City began collaborating with its social football partner Nexen in South Korea, the club started competing in numerous competitions, including the global FUT Champions Cup. In 2019, City went on to collaborate with FaZe Clan, which is one of the largest and most popular esports organisations on the planet.
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A New Season Brings New Shirts
It is obvious that Manchester City is serious about its esports team, as is evident with the launch of bespoke esports shirts for its professional FIFA players to wear in the current 2020/2021 season. The Puma shirts are the club’s first for esports. They feature a paisley design that was inspired by Man City’s third kit. Puma has confirmed that it will be continuing to produce more products for the Manchester City esports team over the course of this year.
Manchester Is Backing the Rise of Esports
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It is not just Manchester City football club taking esports seriously. Manchester, the city itself, is also backing the rise of the industry. For example, the company behind the renowned online esports site GGRecon is based in Manchester, and Manchester University started providing an intercollegiate esports competition in the spring of 2020. The university is now equipped with state-of-the-art gaming stations in two conference centres. Players compete in video game competitions like League of Legends, Super Smash Bros., and Rocket League. Maybe soon, Manchester University will create FIFA esports players who are good enough to be part of the Manchester City esports team.
Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
The Manc -
5th April 2021 
