This past Sunday saw not only the closing night of Parklife and Outbreak Festival here in Greater Manchester, but also Soccer Aid 2025, which raised yet another incredible amount for charity.
It was also one of the highest-scoring games Old Trafford has seen in a while.
This year’s edition of the fundraising match for UNICEF, which has now been running for more than two decades, saw a record-breaking 14th win for the World XI, who have also emerged as champions from the last five Soccer Aid games.
Nevertheless, with more than £15 million raised in charitable donations to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which helps protect children’s rights, provide humanitarian and all-around support to kids across the world in developing countries, that was the real victory.
As you can see, the exact amount generated following donations during this year’s Soccer Aid fixture is £15,280,163, essentially matching the record-breaking figure raised in 2024.
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Better still, this now takes the total raised for UNICEF thanks to the charity match, which became annual back in 2018, to beyond £115m. Incredible stuff.
Top performers on the night included Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who got the goals underway, ex-Man City Women’s star Toni Duggan and retired England striker Jermain Defo, who managed to score a brace on the night.
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However, despite taking a two-goal lead, it was the World XI’s star man who happened to be both a once-friendly face at the Theatre of Dreams and a familiar foe.
Speaking on the staggering 2025 total, pop star Robbie Williams, who founded the event back in 2006, said: “As an original founder of Soccer Aid, I couldn’t be more proud of UNICEF…
“From the volunteers, organisers and talent, to the team on the ground; everyone who buys a ticket or makes a donation. Together, over the years, we’ve raised over £121m. Here’s to many more games and even more fundraising.”
Well done to everyone involved with another fantastic year for Soccer Aid and UNICEF, including local comedian Paddy McGuinness, who celebrated a record ninth appearance playing between the sticks for England. Big likey, big lighty.
You can watch the game back in full HERE or all the big highlights from Soccer Aid 2025 down below.
Cracking scoreline that. Man United vs Lyon, eat your heart out.
An official and completely FREE Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026
Danny Jones
Yes, last year’s newest and official Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026, promising more positive pre- and post-race vibes than the first time around.
Here’s hoping for some lovely sunshine to go along with the atmosphere on 19 April.
Set to host the city centre’s runners and spectators for just the second time, Circle Square’s Symphony Park will be home to the 2026 Manc Marathon fan park, complete with independent pop-ups, big screens to watch all the action on, plus plenty more.
Best of all, it’s completely free to enter all day long for participants and those of you cheering your loved ones along, as well as being an ideal all-ages spot for families to relax and enjoy.
Located just moments from the finish line, just outside the University of Manchester along Oxford Road Corridor, you simply follow it down towards the tall Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech buildings.
Circle Square itself hosts many events and activities all throughout the year, and they couldn’t resist getting back in on the raceday party once again, as more legends are set to take part than ever.
For context, 2025 saw more than 35,000 sign-ups, but this April is expected to see a whopping sold-out crowd exceeding 42,000 – a record number for the annual event.
With that in mind, finding a place to fit all of them and the countless fans who come along to cheer them on from the sidelines is paramount, so it’s a good job the Symphony Park x MCR Marathon fan zone will be open from 9am on the day.
Here are some more scenes from the last edition:
Credit: Jody Hartley (supplied)
Although more are set to be revealed nearer the time, visitors can expect “a lively schedule of entertainment, food and drink pop-ups, family-friendly activities and special offers from our community of independent businesses and brands.”
Set to close around 5pm as the hordes of runners will doubt either head home for a long bath, leg rub or straight to the pub for their victory pints, we can assure you lots of time will be spent on the square.
Featured Images — Jody Hartley (supplied via SH Comms)
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Bruno Guimaraes’ talks over potential move to Manchester United this summer said to be ‘true’
Danny Jones
With the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign fast approaching, eyes are already shifting towards next season and the upcoming transfer window, and one player who has already been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer is Bruno Guimaraes.
Currently the captain at Newcastle, it’s fair to say it would take some doing to swap Uniteds, but stranger things have happened.
Man United seem to be linked with a new midfielder almost every week at this point, with several names floating around in the same sentence as Old Trafford, but this is one that looks to have increasing traction to it.
With talks between the club and Bruno Guimaraes’ representation having reportedly taken place over the past month or so, some have even gone as far as to claim that discussions have already progressed to an ‘advanced’ stage.
🚨 BREAKING:
A meeting took place a few weeks ago between the agents of Bruno G & Manchester United!
As per ever-reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, while he refuted the claims that any direct negotiations have taken place with Newcastle themselves, he stated that “a meeting did take place in recent weeks.”
Believed to have happened a little while ago, rather than more recently, as some reports have suggested, he went on to add that “the information from Brazil is accurate: a meeting was held, and United maintain a good relationship with the agency.”
He also qualified that although it is true that Guimaraes is admired by those at Carrington, he is among a number of shortlisted candidates that they could potentially bring in from June onwards.
For instance, names such as Elliot Anderson, previously pursued Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, as well as two Wolves players and even Bruno’s midfield partner Sandro Tonali have all been rumoured.
However, it’s thought that the 28-year-old Brazilian international and compatriot is the only one that current cog in the middle of the park, Casemiro, is said to have ‘personally’ recommended.
That’s according to the likes of Sports Illustrated, ESPN and others, who say that the veteran midfielder and fellow national teammate has put his Bruno G as the man to follow in his footsteps and fill the key central position when he eventually departs.
Meanwhile, with Bruno Fernandes still the talisman for the Red Devils, you would imagine he wouldn’t mind having another Portuguese-speaking playmaker alongside him.
Whether or not the Magpies secure another year in at least one of UEFA’s continental tournaments will factor into his decision to stay long-term or not remains to be seen, but the feeling is that he could be allowed to leave if they miss out on the Champions League.
As for selling to a relative rival in the table these days, on the other hand, it would likely take some fee for the North East side to let one of their most important stars leave St James Park.
Then again, it looks like Manchester United aren’t willing to simply settle for just the Europa League, given their upturn in form under Michael Carrick, and were they to end up back in all four competitions next year, they could do with all the strength in depth possible.
Danny Jones -
16th June 2025 
