McDonald’s UK is set to deliver over 1.2 million hours of free football coaching to over half a million kids around the country as their ‘Fun Football’programme returns for 2024, including thousands from all over Manchester.
The global fast food chain is bringing back its successful and crucially accessible football coaching campaign to Greater Manchester this spring, and they’ve also had some England stars helping them spread the word.
With Three Lions and Real Madrid Jude Bellingham star getting on board alongside Lionesses hero and Arsenal forward Beth Mead as Fun Football ambassadors, the scheme is hoping to reach more underprivileged areas than ever and give a reminder that the beautiful game is for everyone.
McDonald’s will be providing numerous free football coaching sessions carried out by FA-qualified coaches in over 1,500 locations across the UK, with plenty taking place right here in 0161. Wonderful.
Coaches, ready ✔️ Ambassadors, ready ✔️ Fun Footballers…⌛
We are BACK and bigger than ever for 2024 🙌
You can sign up now to one of our free sessions, taking place all over the UK from the 6th of April 📍
— McDonald’s Fun Football (@FunFootballUK) March 13, 2024
Fun and crucially free football coaching classes are coming to Manchester and beyond.
Sadly, research shows that over half (56%) of children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are inactive due to the associated costs that surround attending sports activities. This is where big brands embroiled in the community come in.
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First set up back in 2018, Maccies’ Fun Football programme has adjusted its centre locations to ensure it can offer over 80% of lower-socio urban areas easy access to the scheme and delivered over five million hours of free football coaching across the nation in the first five years.
In addition, Pan-Disability and Visual Impairment sessions are also set to be offered once again to families up and down the country, as roughly a third of disabled children are said to be currently missing out on the benefits of sport.
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Led by BBC Children in Need and Sporting People, Bellingham and Mead are by no means the first pro footballers to get involved in the wholesome initiative, with the likes of former Blue Micah Richards and current Man City star Jack Grealish getting involved in past years.
So proud to be part of the McDonald’s Football team. My amazing colleagues staged an incredible Fun Football launch event in Manchester yesterday to celebrate the UK’s largest (and free) grassroots football programme. A great day with a star-studded cast⚽️ https://t.co/ttuOvqOLfupic.twitter.com/uMMm0FbvuT
More than 100 dedicated coaches were trained up as part of the partnership in 2023, with bespoke modules created with British Blind Sport, Kick It Out and England Futsal in mind.
The aim is to ensure Fun Football coaches can welcome any child and adapt sessions accordingly, as well as offer a physical and educational outlet to as many kids as possible.
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Children aged 5-11 can take part in sessions starting from Saturday, 6 April until Sunday, 14 July all over the region and the UK, and kids of all abilities are being encouraged to give it a try.
To learn more about where in Greater Manchester they’re taking place and when, click HERE.
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Sport
Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Danny Jones -
13th March 2024 
