Sport

The pitch invader who gave Erling Haaland a flying hug is a former world-champion boxer

The bold, airborne Blue is actually a well-known ex-boxer.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 28th August 2023

People watching back home as Man City beat Sheffield United in a hard-fought win on Sunday were tickled to see an away fan come flying out from the stands to hug Erling Haaland and, as it turns out, this wasn’t any old supporter — he actually happens to be an ex-world champion boxer.

We thought he looked familiar.

For those of you who missed it, after Haaland opened the scoring following a difficult afternoon over at Bramall Lane, hitting the post with his penalty and scrapping with the home side’s defence for a good 60 minutes, his exasperated celebration was made much more amusing when a fan jumped on his back.

While his teammates initially looked concerned to see the pitch invader come flying over the advertising hoardings, they needn’t have worried as it soon became clear the City supporter just wanted to give their star striker a big kiss and a cuddle. Sure he’s not the only one.

A flying City fan gives Haaland a hug after his header.

Leaping from his seat, he ended up clinging to the big Norwegian number nine’s back like some kind of Manc monkey, planting a big wet one on the 23-year-old’s cheek as the centre-forward reciprocated with a friendly hug of his own.

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The random moment turned out to be not just a humorous but a wholesome one too, as Haaland’s exhausted expression suddenly turned to a wry smile and even as the stewards came to haul off the mystery man, it wasn’t anywhere near as tense a situation as most of these fan interactions tend to be.

All that being said, after the fan was escorted away and City went on to win the game 2-1 without Pep Guardiola on the touchline (still recovering from back surgery), eagle-eyed viewers clocked his face, did some digging and found out that this unknown supporter wasn’t a total stranger after all.

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In fact, not only is he a well-known City fan who has regularly attended matchdays home and away down the years, he’s a famous former boxer and two-time world champion from Crumpsall called Terry Flanagan. Good job it was a happy pitch invasion, eh?…

Just relieved the big man reacted as well as he did.

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The 34-year-old fighter from north Manchester won the WBO lightweight title in 2015, becoming the first Englishman to ever do so in that class, and then again in 2017 before ultimately retiring in 2022.

Flanagan fought professionally 36 times, winning 14 by knockout and losing just twice. So yeah, you could say he was pretty good at that boxing lark.

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What’s more is that the local lad has always worn his club on his sleeve — or his shorts, to be more accurate, regularly donning blue trunks embroidered with the City badge when in the ring.

Once a blue, always a blue.

Been a while since we’ve seen the old crest.

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Featured Image — Sky Sports/Terry Flanagan (via Instagram)

Sport

Lancashire Cricket are offering free programmes to 1,400 kids across the county and Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lancashire Cricket Foundation offering free cricket to kids in Greater Manchester

The Lancashire Cricket Foundation is offering free cricket programmes to 1,400 kids across the county and the Greater Manchester region this summer.

Offering coaching and games to children from disadvantaged backgrounds whilst also aiming for greater female participation this year, the Foundation’s bursary programme is being opened up to young ones all across Lancashire and various parts of 0161.

Set to deliver opportunities to a record number of kids in 2024, the scheme is part of the nationwide All Stars and Dynamos initiative – now into its sixth year and set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board – and is open to all kids between the ages of 5-11, with more than 5,600 in Lancashire last year alone.

The aim is pretty simple: keep kids active and playing as much as possible, whilst also helping nurture the world of grassroots cricket.

all stars and dynamos cricket for kids greater manchester
Last year, around 1,200 Lancashire kids and beyond were given free cricket bursaries. (Credit: Supplied)

While the eight-hour long kids courses themselves cost £30 for the younger bracket and £40 for those 8-11, bursary places are being reserved for children living in deprived areas and diverse communities, where participation would otherwise be limited.

The programme has proved massively popular all across the North West and thanks to likes of total of the Red Rose’s Community Foundation works, who have brought the scheme to more than 200 clubs and centres across the nation, more than 20,000 children have taken part since it was introduced.

Now that’s one way to put the future of UK cricket in safe hands.

As for the All Stars and Dynamos, in addition to providing a social outlet and activities to help develop fundamental skills on and off the pitch, organisers always ensure to make things fully inclusive and support a wide range of abilities, disabilities and different learning needs.

In addition to the coaching received, every child who registers also receives their very own t-shirt, personalised with their name and number, as well as a range of other benefits including priority access to LCC tickets​, chances to meet players, discounts on merch and lots of other potential prizes.

The paid version of the scheme is still available to those inelligible for the bursary.

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Jen Barden, Executive Director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said of this year’s efforts: “Through a variety of programmes, the Foundation delivers cricket to more than 110,000 participants in our schools, clubs, and communities, and we have a strong commitment to growing the game of cricket across the county.

“We are particularly proud of the Bursary Scheme that provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups with access to cricket. These programmes are vital for introducing the game to more young people, helping them stay active and develop new skills, in a fun, friendly, and inclusive environment.”

Parents can register their children for All Stars and Dynamos Cricket courses and find out whether they qualify for a bursary HERE.

You can also find out more information on taking part and coaching opportunities on the Lancashire Cricket Foundation website.

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

Featured Images — Lancashire Cricket Foundation

Sport

Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great

Danny Jones Danny Jones Everton manager Sean Dyche in new Blossoms music video

Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?

No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.

Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.

The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.

Sean Dyche stars as the boss in the music video for Blossoms’ latest single, ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’ As you do.

Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.

Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.

Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –

They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:

How catchy is that beat alone!?

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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.

Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.

You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.

He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.

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

Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI

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