Sport

Chorley boxer Jack Catterall’s Co-op Live fight postponed

A rescheduled date is yet to be confirmed.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 31st July 2024

Another unfortunate twist for Co-op Live as the Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis fight has been postponed.

The Chorley-born and bred boxer was due to take on the American fighter and two-time world champion at the brand-new arena next month but the 31-year-old has suffered an injury which has ultimately ruled him out from fighting as planned.

Having grown up just down the road, Catterall has fought four times in Manchester – most recently in May 2023 with a win by unanimous decision against Darragh Foley – but his next local bout is sadly being pushed back following a fitness issue.

Talk of the fight being called off first broke on Tuesday evening, with ESPN’s MikeCoppinger sharing details on social media, but the reports have now been fully confirmed by promoters Matchroom Boxing and the man himself.

Speaking in a frustrated and apologetic statement on his Instagram, Catterall wrote: “For the first time in my 30-fight career, I’ve had to withdraw due to injury.

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“I want to apologise to everyone who’s bought tickets and made plans to come to the fight. Refunds are available from [the] point of purchase. I’m hoping to have a new date very soon.

“Apologies to my opponent Regis. My health comes first and I always want to ensure I’m at 100% walking into the ring. Thanks again for your continued support, see you all very soon.”

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Although the details surrounding the injury are yet to be disclosed, it isn’t thought to be serious; nevertheless, the Lancashire lad simply won’t be back fit and ready in time to face Prograis.

The fight itself is looking like it will be rescheduled for the fall, most likely October if sources are to be believed, and the arena will be coordinating with those who bought tickets accordingly should they be unable to make the new date and require a refund.

Catterall recently took part in a charity 5k alongside fellow Chorley athlete, Reece Brown, who recently won his first marathon after smashing the Liverpool Half just six months into his running career. The run was set up in partnership with Matchroom to help promote the fight and looked raring to go.

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The venue has had a lot of bad luck on its side since first opening back in April, with multiple setbacks delaying the launch and other unforeseen circumstances such as Nicki Minaj and Stevie Nick both having to rearrange dates.

That being said, the flurry of massive gigs is now flowing and the crowds that gathered inside Co-op Live arena for UFC 304 this past weekend, their first-ever sporting event, were sensational and got to sit back and watch as two regional stars prevailed in fine fashion.

Scouse MMA star Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett added another victory to his unbeaten streak and Greater Manchester native Tom Aspinall defended his interim heavyweight title for the first time during the rematch against Curtis Blaydes with a ruthless stoppage in the first round.

He certainly celebrated like a Northerner too…

Tom Aspinall celebrates title defence in the best way possible – by smashing fast food and calling his next fight
Manc fight fans might have to wait to see Jack Catterall fight at the Co-op but at least they got to see a hometown hero shine.

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

Featured Images — Press Image via DAZN/Matchroom Boxing/Co-op Live (supplied)

Sport

The annual Manchester Remembers Foundation charity football match has shut down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Remembers charity game 2025 cancelled

The annual Manchester Remembers charity football match has been cancelled for 2025, and unfortunately, the wider Foundation has also shut down for the foreseeable.

Set up back in 2020, the Manchester Remembers charity game was created to help raise funds for the families of those lost in the tragic 2017 Manchester Arena attack, raising nearly £200,000 in donations for multiple organisations.

It has been a truly treasured community event across Greater Manchester, welcoming thousands to the likes of Manchester City Academy Stadium and Oldham Athletic‘s Boundary Park, as well as spotlighting local musicians and notable figures volunteering their help for a deeply important cause.

However, the Foundation is now set to hang up its boots. Confirming the news over the bank holiday weekend, founders Aaron Lee and Paul Corrigan shared “a difficult statement to make and a decision not taken lightly.”

As explained in the lengthy and emotional post, it is with a “heavy heart” that this year’s charity match has now been officially cancelled, and tickets already purchased up to this point are now being refunded.

Having played a small part in helping spread awareness around the game and the Foundation since it began, we were gutted to learn of this sad news.

The 2025 MCR Remembers game was scheduled to take place this June at a new venue for the event, Bury FC’s home ground at Gigg Lane, but following what they have labelled “a lack of support” from Greater Manchester leaders and “influential people needed to carry the event forward.”

Lee – a former police officer turned firefighter who was one of the emergency responders on 22 May, 2017 – went on to share a follow-up video reflecting on the announcement.

As he puts in the piece to camera, he says that even if those who had been reached out to in recent times were to suddenly respond, that it is “sadly too late.”

Taking time to thank not only past sponsors, managers, ex-pros and celebrity players who have been part of the event in the past, but everyone who bought tickets to the event(s) over the past few years, stating simply: “We cant thank you enough.”

Lee, who was given both a Chief Fire Officers Commendation and British Citizen Award in 2024, went on to address those “so-called leaders and influential people” in a subsequent post, adding: “All we needed was a bit of help. But we were ignored. Thanks for the memories.”

Unsurprisingly, the comments on social media have been awash with messages of love, support and sadness upon learning of this year’s cancellation and the end of The Manchester Remembers Foundation after more than half a decade.

There is some hope, though, as he ends the video by saying, “Who knows if this is the end or not? […] I dare say we’ll be back at some point.” We can only keep our fingers crossed he’s right and the MCR Remembers charity game won’t be shut down for good.

Manchester will always remember.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Manchester Remembers Foundation

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)

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