Sport

Here’s how Manchester United plan to honour club legend Sir Bobby Charlton this week

They are ensuring he gets the send-off he deserves.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 24th October 2023

Manchester United have confirmed how they plan to honour the late, great Sir Bobby Charlton, who sadly passed away on Saturday, 21 October, revealing multiple tributes this week.

Tributes have been pouring in for the club and England legend following his death over the weekend, as players past and presents, staff and fans already having been welcomed to the home ground to lay flowers and scarves outside the Trinity Statue, as well as sign the book of condolences, with thousands more doing the same online in a digital dedication.

However, since the news of Charlton’s passing was learned not long before Man United’s away win against Sheffield United — with Harry Maguire dedicating the victory to the iconic World Cup winner — the club is yet to give Sir Bobby the proper send-off he deserves from the Old Trafford faithful.

That being said, the club have now officially revealed how they will pay their respects to the special footballer, starting several tributes at tonight’s Champions League match against FC Copenhagen.

A full list of plans detailing numerous Sir Bobby Charlton tributes.

As detailed in a club statement, United “will honour and remember Sir Bobby at our men’s first-team game against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday through a special pre-match tribute, which will conclude with a minute’s silence before kick-off.

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Opening turnstiles will be open from 6pm, two hours before they are due to play, they are asking fans to arrive early and take their seats so as to give them plenty of time to prepare for the ceremony and pay their respects.

As the pre-match update goes on to explain, “a wreath will be in place on Sir Bobby’s seat within the Director’s Box, players and staff will wear black armbands and Sir Bobby will be remembered on the cover of the matchday programme.”

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There will also be further tributes to the 1968 European Cup, FA Cup and the three-time division one title-winner in the matchday programme for the Manchester derby this weekend, with Manchester City having already offered their condolences and apologised for the behaviour of some of their fans.

The club has already paid their respects with numerous gestures.

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After a minute’s silence was observed and black armbands were worn by the United Women’s team during their WSL game against Everton at Leigh Sports Village on Monday, Sir Bobby will be similarly commemorated at their UEFA Youth League game on Tuesday as well, with club labelling it “a fitting tribute given his long association with our Academy”.

The book of condolence will also once against be available for fans to leave messages and memories in the International Suite from 10am-4pm right up until this Friday.

And lastly, ahead of their home fixtures against Man City in the Premier League this weekend, the club has said they will “celebrate the life of Sir Bobby with a minute’s applause and expressions of fan remembrance with flags and surfer banners” which will be passed around the stadium. It will be an emotional moment inside Old Trafford, for sure.

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They have assured that further information surrounding Sunday’s match and Charlton’s tributes will be communicated later this week and signed off by thanking the fan base for their “support over recent days and for ensuring we can remember Sir Bobby in such a dignified and respectful manner.”

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

Featured Image — Manchester United (via Instagram)

Sport

Oldham Athletic owner praised for ‘heartwarming’ Christmas gesture

Danny Jones Danny Jones Oldham Athletic owner shaking away fans hands before Christmas

Amidst all the festive fixture congestion and travel drama, the lovely side of football can often get lost this time of year, but the owner and chairman of Oldham Athletic FC has gone viral for reminding everyone of what’s important this Christmas.

The Latics faced off against Braintree Town in the National League in their last game before Christmas on Saturday, 21 December, walking away with a 2-0 win on the road to send the travelling fans home with an early stocking filler.

However, it wasn’t the result that fans and supporters all over the country have been talking about, it was a small but heartfelt gesture from Oldham boss Frank Rothwell who was in attendance for the pre-Christmas away game that has left people applauding him and the values now instilled around the club.

What a difference a bit of recognition, gratitude and simple kindness can make, eh?

As you can see, the 74-year-old entrepreneur (best known for founding the Manchester Cabins portable buildings company) didn’t just send out a Christmas message via club media or record a quick video as many other teams still struggle to put the effort into, he stayed behind to thank every single supporter.

Shaking hands and offering out hugs, all with a sincere enthusiasm and generally lovely demeanour, the Oldham native – donning his distinctive blue club flat cap – made sure to wish each and every one of them a merry Christmas before the nearly five-hour drive home.

Just downright wholesome stuff this, isn’t it?

Reacting to the video which has been reshared countless times online, one person said: “As a former Oldham resident it’s nice to see someone at the top care about the club, the residents and the town in general. It’s been a long time since that has been the case”; another added, “A nice gesture by the owner… After all, it’s the fans who make the game special.”

A third user wrote, “Oldham is a very lucky club. I had the pleasure of a chat with Frank in the tent at PP. I can honestly say one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve met.” A subsequent reply underneath the comment read: “Hate these lot but f*** me I’m jealous, what a genuine bloke he seems to be.”

Rothwell completed his takeover of struggling Oldham Athletic back in 2022 after they were relegated from the EFL (English Football League) after 115 years and has been on a mission to get them back on their feet. He’s playing more than his part.

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Spirits were understandably low at Boundary Park back then and things are still far from perfect, but the sentiment around the club now is a much more uplifting one, as Rothwell and his board look to have really ingratiated themselves among the fans and the community.

He’s also a bit of a local legend for other reasons too, having become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean back in 2021 and raising over £373,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK after beating his record this past February and earning the Prime Minister’s ‘Point of Light’ award. Hero.

Micky Mellon’s side were set to take on York City in their final game of 2024 on Boxing Day but the match was ultimately postponed due to intense foggy conditions which plagued many of Thursday’s games. They will now take on Hartlepool away on New Year’s Day.

You can pretty much guarantee Frank will be along to watch that one too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the football club owners keeping the heart of the beautiful game alive.

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

Featured Images — Oldham Athletic (via X)

Sport

Stockport County fans left ‘absolutely gutted’ after Aston Villa recall star player Louie Barry

Danny Jones Danny Jones Louie Barry recalled from Stockport County loan by Aston Villa

Stockport County fans have been left with an early lump of coal in their Christmas stockings this festive period as loanee and first-team favourite Louie Barry has been recalled by Aston Villa.

After the announcement was delivered this past weekend, Barry is set to return to his parent club in January, leaving him with just three games left before he has to say goodbye to the Hatters.

Having impressed not only in his debut campaign with Stockport but going on to hit even greater heights to emerge as their star player this season, he’s quite literally been the match-winner more times than supporters will care to count as they prepare to bid him a reluctant goodbye.

Breaking the news to the Edgeley Park faithful on Sunday evening, the update may have been inevitable but it still came as a no less painful one that has frustrated many who believe it’s a “poor from Villa” and “unfair” both on the player and the club who desperately rely on him.

Having taken his goal contribution tally from 13 in 20 games throughout 2023/24 to having notched 15 goals and three assists in 22 appearances this season so far, there can be no question that Barry has found a comfortable second home at the League One club.

It’s come as a hard one to take for the fans who are all too aware of his potential. One person joked, “Thanks villa that’s just ruined my Christmas, All the best Louie”; another simply said, “Are you taking the p***?”, while a third dubbed him a “County legend”.

Many merely mustered the old adage, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Thank you”, but to sum up the overall feeling, they’re simply “gutted” to be losing the super talented youngster.

One person even went so far as to write: “An absolute box office footballer and a pleasure to watch live Up there with Anthony Pilkington as the most talented footballer I’ve ever seen in a County shirt Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of watching him, will follow his career with great interest.”

Even fans of other teams have been sharing their sympathy, with more than one echoing the sentiment: “An absolute shame. Been brilliant for you but his talents do lie at a higher level. Presume he will be loaned to a Championship team for the second half of the season.”

In fact, there were plenty of Villa fans to be found in the comments too, all debating whether or not this will prove to be a “mistake”, with several asking “Why upset his rhythm?”.

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With the Birmingham-based side sitting in the European places once again in the top flight this season, the assumption is that Barry will most likely be loaned once again only to a Championship club to see at what level his ability is currently at.

Just as County will now be wishing they had, there’ll be plenty looking to snap the 21-year-old up on a permanent deal should they get the chance, with Leeds, Middlesborough and both Sheffield clubs all said to be interested.

On the other hand, with the Villans still in multiple competitions, they could be looking to bolster their squad with more numbers and given the success of youngsters like high-flying Jhon Durán, Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey, they could be hoping to integrate him into the matchday squad.

However, the worry is that if he does stay at Villa Park and try to fight for first-team minutes, he could end up wasting valuable time sat waiting on the bench rather than continuing to thrive as he was at Stockport County. Regardless, the only saying still rings true: never get attached to a loan player…

Do you think Louie Barry was right to be recalled or is it a misstep from Villa?

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

Featured Images — Screenshot via YouTube/Stockport County

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