Sport

Manchester Storm are hosting EIHL fan-favourite Retro Night this weekend

They're going to play and party like it's 1996.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 3rd March 2023

Our beloved sporting city’s premier ice hockey team, Manchester Storm, are hosting their annual fan-favourite Retro Night this weekend and it’s set to be a stormer. Pun absolutely intended.

The Storm and the Elite Ice Hockey League as a whole are no strangers to unique events and special occasions throughout the season but this one, in particular, is up there with the most popular of all on the calendar simply because of the unrivalled nostalgia factor.

Set to face off against the Guildford Flames on Saturday at 7pm, both teams will be rolling back the years and pulling on jerseys of the past. In the case of Manchester Storm, they’ll be donning a revamped version of their 1996/97 shirt, commonly known as the ‘Eye of the Storm’.

The league-wide initiative takes place every year for at least a week and on top of getting to look back on the club’s wonderful history, the night is packed with plenty more action too.

For starters, Retro Night isn’t just about the players wearing old kits: it’s about everyone getting involved, having a laugh and a good time.

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With that in mind, they’re encouraging fans to turn up their finest 90’s garms and there’ll even be some fun and exclusive themed prizes awarded to the best dressed. No, we’re not going to tell you what they are — the incentive alone should be enough for you to get involved.

Furthermore, there’ll be plenty of 90’s anthems being played before puck-drop as well as during the break, and considering Manchester pretty much smashed that decade (if we do say so ourselves), you can expect plenty of Oasis, Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, not to mention The Prodigy, Blur, Weezer and plenty more era-defining artist being played.

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As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even going to be plenty of 90’s nostalgia TV playing, including some old-school Manchester Storm footage from the ‘Arena’ days that the young’uns might have never seen.

It was always going to be a night of fun and excitement but as the Storm are currently on a roll of five consecutive victories and just as many league games remaining in the season, it’s all set up to be a blockbuster as coach Matt Ginn and his squad look to continue their winning streak!

With forward Anthony DeLuca third in the race for top scorer with a total of 23 goals and Jeremy Brodeur fourth in the league for goaltending with a huge 91.88% save percentage, fans could be in for another blockbuster.

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Knowing that nearly 15,000 have piled into the Storm Shelter at Planet Ice, Altrincham in 2023 so far, they’re expecting another bumper crowd this weekend.

If it’s anything like the turnout and the atmosphere produced for the ‘Air the Bear’ event at the end of last year, you really don’t want to miss this one.

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If you fancy bagging yourself a ticket for Manchester Storm’s Retro Night, doors open at 6pm and the face-off is set for 7pm. The best part is, tickets will cost as little as a tenner — you can grab yours HERE.

£10 is the standard price for adult admission but family tickets are also available not only is parking free after the doors open, but the travel links are right on the doorstep too.

Guess we’ll see you there then!

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

Featured Image — Manchester Storm (via Twitter)

Sport

25,000 free footballs are being given away across the UK

Danny Jones Danny Jones Barlcays bank giving 1000 free football across the UK

A total of 25,000 free footballs are up for grabs this month as part of a new scheme from Barclays, who are giving them away to mark a special anniversary.

The British multinational universal bank, which boasts over 850 branches and more than 48 million customers worldwide, has been supporting the beautiful game for a quarter of a century now and has been the primary Premier League sponsor since the 2001/02 season.

Approaching 25 years helping fund and promote English football, they’ve come up with a new initiative to celebrate, simply called the ‘Lost Ball Project‘.

We’ve all seen scenes like these before.

barclays free footballs
lost ball project
Credit: Barclays (supplied)

Tapping into the national and generational memory of losing a ball to a pond, up a tree, over a fence or on a roof and so on, Barclays are making up for those heartbreaking little losses – one ball at a time.

Lost Ball will see the bank give away 25k footballs across the UK, with Barclays customers able to claim a free ball for themselves or someone else who has lost theirs.

Already up and running, the scheme is off to a flyer and free footies will be available until Thursday, 22 May, so we wouldn’t wait around.

The bank has played an integral role throughout the British football pyramid for decades now, sponsoring to only the Premier League but also the WSL, Barclays Women’s Championship; the Northern Irish Women’s Football Association, Scottish Women’s Championship and the Scottish Women’s League One

They’ve even put together this emotive, albeit a bit tongue-in-cheek video:

Excellent song choice.

As they put it, the mission of the Lost Ball Project is simple: “Let’s keep the nation playing the beautiful game. Because there’s no football without grassroots football.”

In addition to backing established leagues, they have continued to support the country’s footballing community at large, especially in terms of the women’s game.

For instance, the Barclays Girls’ Football School partnership with The FA has seen the number of participating schools rise from 3,000 in 2019 to 20,000 in 2024, helping more than 2.5 million schoolgirls access football.

Important work done from the ground up.

Credit: Supplied

Barclays’ Group Head of Sponsorship, Tom Corbett, said in a statement: “We are immensely proud of our pioneering work and funding to grassroots football over the past 25 years.

Giving away 25,000 balls to replace our customers’ ‘Lost Balls’ means they will never be without the one thing you need to be able to play the game we’ve supported at Barclays for all these years.”

If you bank with the group, you can find out how to claim your free football HERE.

We quite fancy a kick around now.

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Featured Images — Barclays (supplied)

Sport

Andy Burnham set to join legendary Manc DJ and ex-England internationals in a charity football match

Danny Jones Danny Jones Andy Burnham charity football match

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is set to take on a legendary Manchester DJ as well as multiple former footballers in a charity football match, including multiple ex-England internationals.

Now eight years into representing the ten boroughs, Burnham’s latest charitable effort comes on behalf of iconic Manc venue and community cornerstone, Salford Lads and Girls Club (SLGC), which has sprouted some of the region’s most important musical and sporting talents.

Set to face the one and only Mike Sweeney – a veteran BBC broadcaster and legendary Salfordian radio DJ – as well as a number of retired pros, in hopes of raising money for SLGC, the charity game is taking place very soon.

And by soon, we mean this month. You can hear all about it from the man himself:

As explained by Sweeney, now 77, the meeting between his all-stars and Burnham’s boys is scheduled to take place on 11 May, with a 2pm kick-off.

The Premier League’s already wrapped up, this is the real ‘Super Sunday’.

Enlisting the help of Manchester United legend, not to mention Treble and Champions League winner, Paul Scholes, there is some serious talent on show.

Mayor Burnham, on the other hand, has managed to sign Bolton Wanderers legend, as well as former Manchester City player-manager and England international, Peter Reid, who is still raring and ready to lace up his boots at the age of 68.

Sweeney is actually an England player himself, in case you didn’t know, currently representing the over-75s national team. A man of many talents.

As for who else, the complete squads are yet to be fully confirmed, but the starting XIs will be made up of other members from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and more hand-picked by the local legend.

afc monton manchester
new alder park
AFC Monton’s home ground (Credit: Gibbo’s 92)

The match is set to take place at AFC Monton’s New Alder Park (just off Worsley Road, M30 8JN) and, best of all, entry to the ground will be completely FREE, with those attending encouraged to donate as much as they like to Salford Lads and Girls Club on the door.

Speaking ahead of the game, Sweeney said: “Salford Lads and Girls Club is incredibly close to my heart and I can’t think of a better cause to put this game to.

“It will be a welcome change switching the battle of the studio to the football pitch where I can flex my international credentials, while raising as much money as we can for this amazing club.”

As for the Mayor, he wrote in a statement following the announcement: “SLGC is an iconic institution which has provided a lifeline to many of the most vulnerable in our communities. When we were told the club was in real jeopardy last year, we knew we had to do all we could to help.

“It was fantastic to see all the money raised in such a short space of time to save the club, but we want to go further to make sure the club is safe and invested in for the future. This is why the legacy fund is so important.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to Andy Burnham, Mike Sweeney, and every player stepping up to take part in this special match.

Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club is SAVED after Greater Manchester rallies behind local institution
The charity match set up by Mike Sweeney and Andy Burnham follows a huge surge of support for the venue late last year.

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Laura Slingsby, CEO of Salford Lads and Girls Club, signed off by adding: “We’re incredibly grateful to Andy Burnham, Mike Sweeney, and every player stepping up to take part in this special match.

“Events like this help us raise funds and shine a light on the life-changing support Salford Lads and Girls Club continues to offer young people across Salford.

“This is more than just a game. It’s a celebration of community, heritage, and hope for the future. We can’t wait to see everyone pitchside cheering them on!”

Who are you cheering on, ‘Sporting Sweeney’ or ‘Burnham FC’? Doesn’t matter either way – a beloved community cornerstone is the real winner either way.

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Featured Images — GMCA

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