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.
Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
Sport
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)
Danny Jones -
13th March 2024 
