Sport

Heartwarming moment Jack Grealish surprises disabled superfan

The little lad couldn't stop smiling.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th November 2022

Very few of us are lucky enough to meet our heroes, but for anyone fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of, say, their favourite footballer, it’s a special moment that you never forget.

That was certainly the case for young Manchester City and Jack Grealish superfan, Finlay, who was surprised by his sporting hero at a recent Premier League ‘Fan Mail’ event.

After having received a heartfelt letter from the 11-year-old, Grealish decided that he had to reach out and meet this young man in person.

The 27-year-old England international organised to turn up at City Football Academy’s disability sessions on Monday night and surprise him. Just look at his face.

As ‘Super Jack’ goes on to explain as he reads out the letter, the young boy felt a special connection to the midfielder after he discovered he shared a disability with Grealish’s sister, as both she and Finlay have cerebral palsy.

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Writing in his letter, Finlay said: “I love the way you are really good with your sister, you really get it. You always have her there with you and you looked really proud”.

The former Aston Villa man goes on to detail how his now 19-year-old sister Holly was born three months premature and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after.

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Back then, his family was told she wouldn’t be able to talk or walk but is now leading a happy life.

Finlay goes on to say, “I wish there were more people in the world just like you who see people with disabilities the same as everyone else”.

He also explains how being unable to move or think as quickly as everyone else on the pitch and getting picked often leaves him upset and sometimes his frustration ends up getting him into trouble.

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City’s no. 10 not only writes back to him, reminding him to always “play with a smile on your face”, but also sends him a signed shirt with his name printed on it before.

But that wasn’t enough for Grealish; as well as meeting Finlay in person, he also promised to dedicate his celebration to him the next time he scores.

So, if you see him doing a random dance the next time he plays and scores for the Blues, that’s why.

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

Featured Image — Premier League (via YouTube)

Sport

Greater Manchester clubs and Kellogg’s team up for free kids’ football camps this summer

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kellogg's free summer football camps in Greater Manchester 2024

A whole host of Greater Manchester clubs are teaming up with cereal brand Kellogg’s this summer to hold tens of thousands of free football camps for kids this summer.

Joining the nationwide initiative alongside dozens of other teams across the country, local sides including Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Salford City and more will be taking part in a glorious sporting summer helping the opportunity to stay active and entertained during the holidays.

Kellogg’s Football Camps and similar schemes from the company have been running for many years and this latest edition is set to be the biggest yet, with 300,000 completely free days of footballing fun set to be offered out to children aged 5-14 all over the UK.

With the multiple clubs from in and around the region enlisting their help, not to mention Euro 2024 and the Olympics just on the horizon, it’s going to be a great couple of months for the little ones.

With the likes of Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and other nearby organisations such as the Foundation 92 (the educational charity arm formed by the Man United’s Class of ’92 group) getting involved, the physical activity-driven programme will be a great outlet for kids this school break.

This fresh push for physical activity comes after recent research found that 90% of parents in the North West would like their child to experience less screen time and take part in more outdoor activities and 7/10 of mums and dads from the region feel there aren’t enough accessible activities local to them.

Entry for the Kellogg’s camps kicked off this month and will run until 24 June, with around 2,500 places released every week. The sessions themselves will run throughout July and August 2024 as well as a handful in June and September.

To mark the occasion this year, they also revealed the world’s longest football scarf featuring a total of 74 different teams from England, Wales, and Scotland, measuring approximately 100m long.

Half-and-half scarves can still do one but this is pretty ace, right?

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The vast majority of parents polled said they felt participating in team sports can help build crucial life skills and that’s exactly what the campaign is hoping to achieve. Brilliant stuff.

Kellogg’s has long held not only a local connection to Greater Manchester but a partnership with English football in general (if you have one of those old footy cereal bowls you know all too well), so it’s nice to see them still getting involved and help parents keep their kids occupied for a little while this summer.

The sign-up process is pretty simple: merely grab a promotional box of the brand’s cereal which millions of British kids already eat for their cereal, scan the barcode to validate the purchase and then select your desired club via email to book your kids onto the free football days. You can see the T&Cs HERE.

As it happens, they aren’t the only food brand offering similar sporting freebies this year:

McDonald’s set to deliver free football coaching to thousands of Greater Manchester kids

Featured Images — Supplied/Bolton Wanders FC (via X)

Sport

Wes Brown urges Manchester United to give Erik ten Hag at least ‘one more season’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Wes Brown urges Man United to give Erik ten Hag one more season

Manchester United legend Wes Brown has come out to recommend Erik ten Hag be given at least “one more season” as the discussion surrounding his future at Old Trafford continues to ramp up.

With Man United still underperforming in the league and very hot and cold in terms of overall form, to say the least, many fans are now wondering how long ten Hag has left in the job as the new owners continue to rebuild the club.

As the 54-year-old heads into an FA Cup semi-final this Sunday – United‘s only shot at winning silverware this season and arguably the only potential mark of tangible success this year as the sizeable between the European place remains – some supporters seem to already consider this as his only chance of avoiding the sack.

Despite winning the Carabao Cup in his first campaign last season, we all know how ruthless football management can be, but Wes Brown has now urged the administration not to be rash in any decision-making regardless of whether there’s a trophy at the end of the tunnel this May.

Wes Brown believes Erik ten Hag deserves to be given more time. (Credit: In The Zone via YouTube)

Speaking to BBC and Premier League presenter Manish Banish on the In The Zone podcast, the double Champions League winner said United shouldn’t be looking to change managers again any time soon, insisting “they should have a respectful three or four years to get what they want done”.

“They have to give him one more season, it’s simple”, says Brown, adding: “I think the manager has done enough in the first two seasons to secure another season.”

Still an ambassador at United and regular on MUTV, the 44-year-old ex-defender was highly vocal and full of praise in his support of ten Hag last year, stating that he believes the Dutchman brought a “change in attitude” to the set-up and has been good at ensuring there is “no messing about“.

However, things have been far from straightforward for the former Ajax coach this time around, as the Red Devils have struggled for consistency in the league and been left blighted by injuries. The unfortunate records this season certainly haven’t helped either.

Manchester United are breaking all the wrong records under Erik ten Hag

Nevertheless, the five-time Premier League champion went on to remind that, “United have had big-name managers in and it’s all been the same, so something is not right somewhere. You have to give the manager time because if you want to kick on and injuries have stopped him doing what he’s wanted to do this year.

“[Lisandro] Martinez is a big miss, he changed things a little bit for United; he brings power to the defensive line – just like [Raphael] Varane.

He did admit that “this season is a tough watch” and it’s not a great time to be a Red in Manchester but did reiterate the good work and progress made by the manager last year: “a good league finish and two finals and a cup – this is where they want to be.”

Brown also argued that, at many stages during the current campaign, United simply haven’t looked like a team and rather just a “bunch of individuals”, noting that the aforementioned injury crisis has only compounded the failure to properly “gel” as a unit as he notes the top three clearly are.

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Ultimately, he said that it just boils down to the squad being too mercurial and really living up to the ‘game of two halves’ footballing stereotype; “We can be really good and exciting and then really poor at the same time” – especially in the league, as he sees it.

As Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the growing number of new INEOS-backed executives continue to be appointed to the board, the likes of Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, the ex-Seagulls coach Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and even Gareth Southgate have all been floated as potential replacements.

What do you think, Reds: would you give ten Hag more time or is beating Coventry City this weekend and going on to win the FA Cup a must for the Man United manager?

You can watch Wes Brown’s take on Erik ten Hag’s future, what needs to happen at the club and more in full down below:

Wes Brown talks about his career, Fergie and the ‘hairdryer’; ten Hag, United’s new co-owners and more.

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

Featured Images — In The Zone (via YouTube)/Man United (via Instagram)

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