England and Manchester footballers Phil Foden and Ella Toone have teamed up with Nike, JD Sports and the Football Beyond Borders charity to launch a brand new all-weather football surface in Moss Side.
The community football pitch dubbed ‘Move to Zero Manchester’ at the Millennium Powerhouse in Moss Side was set up to provide more opportunities for the next generation to play.
The pitch’s name derives from Nike’s ‘Move to Zero’ campaign, which strives to achieve zero carbon and waste level to help protect the future of sport and give back to the local community. Mint.
Credit: Football Beyond Borders (via Twitter)
As for the pitch itself, the surface is made with what the brand calls ‘Nike Grind‘: an initiative which dates back to 1992 and repurposes old boots and trainers that would otherwise end up in landfill by turning them into recycled materials for new products and pitches like this.
A great use for your old and unwanted kicks.
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Unveiling the pitch and a number of activities, Football Beyond Borders (FBB) hosted a festival for the Moss Side community, celebrating the local area’s culture and identity as a hive of “movement and collaboration for creativity and play.”
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY FOOTBALL PITCH IN MANCHESTER ❤️
Having both @PhilFoden & @ellatoone99 present made it extra special for all the young people who have a new space to do the thing the love 👏🏽
These included a series of workshops, food stalls and dynamic learning opportunities for young people to understand the impact the local community can have. This is at the core of FBB’s youth movement and overarching ethos.
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Of course, no celebration of youth and Mancunian sporting culture would be complete without some local heroes — that’s where surprise appearances from Manchester City winger Phil Foden and Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone come in.
The Nike athletes and England internationals were joined by significant community leaders to officially unveil the space. What better heroes could you ask for than a starring City player and a Euro 2020-winning Lioness?
But the Manc duo weren’t the only notable figures there on the day, as the likes of Commonwealth bronze medalist Naomi Metzger, artist Pete Obsolete; dance troupe Impact Dance, health food collective Melanin Markets and James Gregory of Families Against Violence were all in attendance.
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As for FBB, their work helping redevelop pitches and youth educational services across the country through sport has been benefitting local communities since the charity was founded back in 2014.
Similar campaigns started with regenerating a community pitch at their Brixton HQ in 2015 and in 2020 they started with companies like Nike and JD to see how they could bring similar rejuvenation to local youth communities in Manchester.
Football Beyond Borders CEO and co-founder Jack Reynolds said that the charity is committed to continuing its work in local areas.
He said in a statement: “Community football pitches are hubs for people. They bring locals together, enable relationships to forge, and they provide an outlet for young people to play and be youthful.”
Featured Image — Nike x JD x Football Beyond Borders
Sport
Police issue update after Sterling flies home from World Cup following home invasion
Danny Jones
Surrey Police have issued an update following Raheem Sterling’s home invasion that has forced the England international to fly home from the 2022 World Cup.
The former Manchester City star was left out of the Three Lions squad against Senegal due to a “family matter” on Sunday before the exact circumstances were confirmed shortly after.
Authorities have now verified that hundreds of thousands of pounds of goods had been stolen from the property but that, fortunately, “no threat of violence was involved”.
Sterling flew just hours after hearing of the break-in at his home Leatherhead home where he lives with his fiancé and two children.
Manager Gareth Southgate could not confirm whether the Chelsea player will be returning to the squad, insisting that, obviously, “the priority is for him to be with his family” and that they will “give him as much time as he needs”.
The police force said in a statement: “We are currently investigating a report of a burglary at an address in Oxshott, Leatherhead.
“Police were contacted just before 9pm on Saturday, December 3rd after the occupants of the property came home and discovered a number of items including jewellery and watches had been stolen.
“Inquiries to establish the circumstances are underway and the investigation is ongoing. No threat of violence was involved as the items were discovered stolen retrospectively. Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”
Grealish holds his hands up over Almirón dig: ‘I do stupid stuff’
Danny Jones
Jack Grealish has finally held his hands up after mocking Miguel Almirón, assuring that while he has made mistakes in career, he has a “good heart”.
Speaking to the media at the national camp in Qatar, the footballer was asked about his now-infamous dig at the Newcastle player, quipping that teammate Riyad Mahrez “played like Almirón” in a sub-par performance during Manchester City‘s 2021/22 title-winning match back in May.
Ironically, Grealish‘s Almiron joke has preceded an incredible run of form from the winger this year, arguably being their player of the season with eight goals to his name already.
Despite the 28-year-old insisting he has “never really paid attention” to what people say about him, he will have inevitably seen the viral clip.
Jack Grealish saying that Mahrez should have been taken off the pitch v Aston Villa because he was playing like Newcastle United’s player Miguel Almirón.
Nevertheless, the England and City star took accountability for the unnecessary outburst, confessing, “I do stupid stuff, that was one”, whilst assuring: “Obviously I’ve done stupid stuff in my life but I think everything that I do good is from my heart.”
The 27-year-old went on to say that describe his Premier League peer as a “great player”, adding: “what a guy… if that was me and somebody had said that about me, I’d have probably been the other way and been like: ‘f*** it'”.
While he said he didn’t think the drunken video would go public, he knows it wasn’t the most professional of moments and that not only is he “buzzing” to see Almirón playing so well but that he will be sure to “show him the most respect” the next time they meet on the pitch.
All in all, we know Jack is a decent bloke: his special tribute to superfan Finlay following his goal at the World Cup alone tells us that and is just one of many instances.
Here he is surprising Finlay once again with a FaceTime after he dedicated his celebration to the 11-year-old as promised.
Danny Jones -
18th October 2022 
