Sport

A seriously impressive next-gen football centre has opened up at TraffordCity

A unique, state-of-the-art place to enjoy a kick-about right on your doorstep.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 25th November 2022

A new next-generation football centre has launched in the TraffordCity retail and leisure complex over in (you guessed it) Trafford and, believe us, this is much more than another five-a-side venue.

Fives Soccer Centre‘s new Manchester site is a revolutionary small-sided football venue offering locals the chance to play the beautiful game like they never have before.

Complete with state-of-the-art technology, the world-class facilities at the brand new Fives Trafford span across eight pitches, each measuring larger than the standard-sized pitches — the first in the UK to be approved by the FA, in fact.

Located just next door to Chill Factore, iFly indoor skydiving and, of course, the Trafford Centre, the industry-leading football centre is about connecting players to the game and turning a kick-about into a more immersive experience. There were even some famous faces down to celebrate the launch.

Each Fives pitch offers individual player tracking, allowing everyone to analyse their performance in minute detail and log their stats into a user-friendly app after a game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Providing everything from analytics and leaderboards to video match replays and highlights in the dedicated Fives mobile app, this place brings you closer to understanding your own game than any other five-a-side pitch ever has.

The new app and QR code system also allows players to check availability, control floodlights, access pitches even after they’re done to watch and share their game footage, check digital scoreboards and, most importantly, confirm and split payments for bookings. No more chasing your mates for the money.

ADVERTISEMENT
Credit: Fives Soccer Centre

CEO Scott Penman says that the hope is that “Fives can change the shape of 5-a-side football over the coming years and encourage a more diverse and inclusive customer base into the sport we all love.”

Moreover, Fives Soccer Centres (founded in 2018) isn’t just about bringing that added level of professionalism and digitalisation, it’s also crucially about providing an open and modern space to play for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Manchester United and England stars Katie Zelem and Nikita Parris were both present for the launch event and spoke about how envious they are that the next generation of young players can now hone their abilities at such an impressive facility.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more:

Speaking on launch day on 1 November, United Women’s captain Zelem said Fives is “leading the way in offering a professional experience to all players”, adding, “I really feel like the future of football is safe hands.”

The facility is open to the public and individual pitches and leagues can be booked via the Football Fives mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

For more information on how to get involved, as well as event bookings, visit www.football5s.com/

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

Featured Image — Supplied

Sport

Manchester City star Erling Haaland is now a playable character in Clash of Clans mobile game

Danny Jones Danny Jones Erling Haaland in Clash of Clans mobile game

In yet more proof that footballers just live in an entirely different world from us, Manchester City star Erling Haaland has popped up in the popular mobile game, Clash of Clans – and it’s not just a little cameo either.

Haaland‘s no stranger to the odd brand deal, so when we saw him cutting a promo for Clash of Clans we weren’t too surprised, but it’s safe to say we weren’t expecting to see footballers pop up in video games besides FIFA (sorry, EA FC) at any point this year.

The big number nine is not just a famous face to help push the already hugely popular mobile strategy and city-building game, they don’t need it; it turns out the lethal goalscorer is now going to be an actual playable character in the latest Clash of Clans update.

He even turned his hand to a bit of acting in the trailer:

As you can see, the 23-year-old stars in the new advert which sees troops appear in his home whilst he’s playing the game before being sucked into the game world.

Starring as the Barbarian King, he’s the first real person to ever feature in the game and will be available through a month-long football-themed seasonal event in-game.

When we stop and think about it, the Norwegian striker is pretty much a perfect fit given his Scandinavian heritage and the obvious Viking theme surrounding the franchise – not to mention the fact that he’s apparently been playing the game since he was 10.

He’s also been dropping a hint or two of late, in case you didn’t pick up on them.

why is erling haaland in clash of clans?
erling haaland character in clash of clans
Credit: Erling Haaland (via Instagram)

Read more:

Speaking on the collaboration, Haaland said: “I’ve been a huge fan of the game for a long time and know everything about it, so to appear as an in-game character is really cool”.

As for Finnish developer-publishers Supercell, CoC’s general manager Stuart McGaw said in an official announcement: “When we heard Erling Haaland was a fan of our game and that he wanted to partner with us, it was really a dream scenario.”

Haaland will be available to recruit in the game until 31 May, plus, if players raid his village and take down the Barbarian King himself, they can win additional rewards and a place on the leaderboards.

Weird but pretty cool, to be fair.

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

Featured Images — Clash Of Clans/Supercell

Sport

Only three Manchester United players are said to be ‘off limits’ this summer transfer window

Danny Jones Danny Jones Only three Man United players off limits this summer transfer window

Manchester United are reportedly open to offers on practically their entire first-team squad as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group look to rebuild the squad from the ground up, with just three current players said to be ‘off-limits’ in the upcoming transfer window.

The eye-opening report by The Telegraph‘s James Ducker has revealed that the latest assessment by Ratcliffe and his new executive board, including new technical director Jason Wilcox, is that they would be “prepared to listen to offers for the majority of their first-team squad this summer”

While Ducker stresses that the club are not actively looking to offload senior stars like Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez for example, it is now thought they “are keeping a very open mind about sales and will judge any offers on their own merits.”

However, is said that some players that are simply not for sale – well, at least three.

United are willing to sell first-team players if the right money comes in but three of the next generation are strictly off-limits.

As per the bombshell report when it comes to the business Man United are planning this summer, only homegrown talent Kobbie Mainoo, rising star Alejandro Garnacho and recently acquired young striker Rasmus Højlund have been deemed off-limits by the new co-owners.

With 30 goal contributions between the two attacking players across all competitions and still so early on in their careers, it’s not hard to see why, not to mention Mainoo looks to be one of the most promising midfielders in the country at the moment, securing an England call-up in his debut season to boot.

A big factor in the apparent approach is the club having now officially dropped out of the Champions League following their disappointing home draw against Burnley, which will see a significant dip in revenue, meaning that potential salary cuts of around 25% off the total wage bill could be floated.

However, players like Rashford, Casemiro and Raphaël Varane who have big contracts could prove to be an obstacle, meaning their future at Old Trafford may be less assured than previously. With over half a billion spent over the last three summer transfer windows, it is thought a ‘buy-to-sell’ policy is likely.

Read more:

As reported earlier this month, Wilcox’s arrival at the club included not only an assessment of the current squad and which areas need to be improved – with United said to be targeting another striker, right-sided centre-back and a midfielder come June – but of the manager himself too.

Also broken by Ducker, the new director is said to be looking at Erik ten Hag’s “strengths and weaknesses” as the season draws to a close over the next few weeks, with the Dutchman’s future at the club also still up in the air following a difficult season.

ten Hag‘s training sessions, in particular, are said to be of interest, especially given the Red Devils’ lack of a clear tactical style or any discernible patterns of play since he joined back in April 2022.

Whether faith will be placed in him as it has with the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho and Højlund remains to be seen but it looks set to be a big summer transfer window for United, even if not entirely in terms of spending. Which would about you, Reds: which players would you definitely want to keep?

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

Featured Images — Manchester United (via Instagram)

More Sport

Premier League clubs agree vote for new spending cap

Business

Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour

Burnley fan charged with tragedy chanting at Old Trafford

Crime

Fan charged over tragedy chanting during Manchester United vs Burnley match

Erik ten Hag calls Manchester United 'one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams' in the Premier League

Opinion

Erik ten Hag splits opinion as he calls Man United “one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league”

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches