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’s Club de Padel claps back at ’embarrassing’ copycat ASOS product
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester business has sarcastically pointed out the glaring similarities between a new t-shirt on ASOS and one of its own designs.
Club de Padel has a range of retro-inspired merch with UN:IK, a small independent streetwear brand also based here in Manchester.
Its collection of t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, hats and bags often feature a design of an illustrated padel ball (which to the untrained eye is basically a tennis ball) in motion.
But this week a t-shirt appeared on ASOS that also featured an illustrated padel ball in motion, just in a slightly different colour palette.
The ASOS version, which has now been removed from sale, also undercut Club de Padel’s price by £6.
Since Club de Padel took the ’embarrassing’ copycat product public on their Instagram page, ASOS has launched an investigation and taken it off their website.
The sports venture, based at Deansgate Square and the only padel club in Manchester, wrote: “Love the new designs ASOS, kinda reminds us of something though…
The ASOS t-shirt that Club de Padel has said copies their merch. Credit: ASOSClub de Padel’s t-shirt created by Manchester brand UN:IK. Credit: Club de Padel
“Ah. Well that’s embarrassing… We’ve got a new line coming soon with UN:IK Clothing you’re just gonna love ASOS.
“In the meantime we made this for you @asos, save your design team a job.”
An ASOS spokesperson said: “We take intellectual property issues very seriously and have removed this product from sale while we investigate further.”
Of the Club de Padel and UN:IK collaboration, aka the real deal, UN:IK says it has ‘served up a staple for us, retro inspired leisure pieces with Manchester’s first ever padel club’.
Club de Padel in Manchester has gone public to poke fun at ASOS
They wrote: “Inspired by owners after a trip to Spain, Club de Padel has hit the city with a wave and the lifestyle brand we have created with them reinforces the fastest growing sport across Europe.
“Our classic vintage washes and oversized fits, working with independent designs as always on this local independent partnership. Don’t be afraid to the sport, we’ll guarantee you love it as much as these clothes.”
Manchester Remembers release unbelievable new kits featuring iconic Manc landmarks for 2024 charity match
Danny Jones
The Manchester Remembers Foundation have just released the official kit designs for this year’s upcoming charity football match and they’re utterly amazing.
The 2024 Manchester Remembers charity game is fast approaching, with this year’s edition set to take place in July and the excitement is really starting to build – especially with kits as eye-catching as these.
Roping in help from local media and production company Badger and Coombes, as well as getting Lionesses legend Sue Smith involved in the kit launch, the brand new Legends and Celebs kits have finally been revealed in extremely fine fashion.
Lovingly made once again by Oldham-based kit manufacturers, Hope and Glory, and with Salfordian fashion brand Marc Darcy Menswear serving as the main sponsor, the new shirt designs feature incredibly detailed drawings of recognisable locations around Manchester. Just look at them:
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) April 19, 2024
The 2024 Manchester Remembers kits have officially been unveiled.
As you can see, iconic Manc landmarks like Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium take pride of place in the semi-opaque sublimated pattern on both the white and black versions of the kit.
Other noticeable buildings include Manchester Cathedral, the Central Library, Manchester Central (formerly the GMEX) and even a nice little nod to the Metrolink and Bee Network, just to name a few.
The incredibly detailed design pays homage to the city we all know and love and is a big step up from the already very well-received kits from last year’s charity match.
Once again, all the proceeds from the shirt sales go straight back into the Manchester Remembers Foundation and its partnered charities, which raise money for the families of those sadly lost in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
Celebs stripLegends kitYou can pre-order the shirts ahead of their release in May HERE and they’re very affordable compared to most footy kits these days.
With a whole host of exciting names taking part in the 2024 edition of the charitable community-driven event, including ex-Manchester United stars Antonia Valencia and Danny Simpson, local celebs like soap star Adam Thomas, YouTuber ‘Angry Ginge’ and many more, it’s going to be a momentous day.
This year marks just the third time the game has been held but the amazing people attached to this non-profit, not to mention the thousands that have turned up to see the wholesome fixture, have already helped raise over £117k for the associated charities. Unbelievable stuff.
Returning to Oldham Athletic‘s Boundary Park for the second year running, tickets for the game on Sunday, 28 July are already available and priced at only a fiver for under 16s and just £10 for adults, it’s one of the most uplifting and affordable afternoons of live sport you’ll find the region.
If you’ve not heard about this truly inspiring annual match until now, you can find out more HERE.
The Manc -
5th April 2021 
