Sport

Salford Red Devils tackle sustainability head-on with special hand-delivered donation to local charity shop

Two local Super League stars made a surprise appearance at one of MediaCity's most popular new attractions.

Harry Quick Harry Quick - 16th January 2024

The Charity Super.Mkt pop-up in Quayside Media City has received a massive collection of exclusive sports gear and merchandise from rugby league club Salford Red Devils.

Australian second-row duo and Salford stars Sam Stone and Shane Wright took a trip over to the Quays to deliver the goods in person.

The Super League club has been collecting training wear and playing shirts from players throughout the off-season, which have been donated to the second-hand fashion store, along with a range of other branded Red Devils merchandise.

So, this is your chance to grab some exclusive kits and gear, all in great condition and at great prices.

Paul King, Managing Director of Salford Red Devils, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Charity Super.Mkt and donate some special items and player-worn gear to aid their efforts.

“As a club, we believe in making a positive impact beyond the field, and by supporting Super.Mkt we’re able to ensure a sustainable route for these pieces, offer an affordable option for our community, and support some fantastic charities.”

Dotted in amongst the donated items are also some very special pieces that Devils fans would definitely want to get their hands on. But you’ll have to be quick…

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With prices starting at just £5, lucky shoppers could stumble across signed match-worn shirts of former Red, Danny Addy, as well as England Knights International, Deon Cross; there were also two shirts signed by the whole squad — including the first squad-signed 2024 shirt!

Five lucky shoppers will also have the chance to win two tickets to the first home game of the season against Castleford Tigers on 25th February 2024. To grab a seat at The AJ Bell Salford Community Stadium, selected items will be labelled with a rare golden ticket, so you might be going home with more than just a new shirt if you’re lucky!

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salford rugby donate kits and sports gear to local charity shop
Salford Devils forward, Wrighty, certainly enjoyed his trip to the Media City charity shop.
charity super mkt media city
Charity Super.Mkt sold over 101k second-hand items in the first six months alone, stopping more than 29m kilos from going into landfill.
Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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In a fast-moving world, Charity Super.Mkt always champions sustainability, bringing the loads of best pre-loved clothing stores under one roof. Co-founder Wayne Hemingway MBE said: “MediaCity in Salford has been such a great location for us and we certainly hope to be back, as it’s been such a success.

“People, including sports fans, are becoming more conscious of their choices and the effect they have on the world. We’re happy to help give them new sports gear without hurting the planet or breaking the bank.”

Proceeds will go towards participating charities including Age UK, All Aboard, Emmaus, Havens Hospices, Together Trust and St Vincent de Paul.

If you are looking to grab something for yourself, be it a bit of signed Salford merch or otherwise, opening hours of Charity Super.Mkt at Quayside Shopping Centre are from 10am-6pm, Mon-Fri (Thu 10am-8pm); 10am-7pm on Saturdays and 11am-5pm on Sundays.

We’ve been big fans ever since it first opened.

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Featured Images — Supplied/The Manc Group

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?

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Featured Images — Screenshot via YouTube/Stockport County

Sport

Rúben Amorim’s Man United press conference interrupted by Old Trafford roof leaking – again

Danny Jones Danny Jones Old Trafford roof starts leaking during Ruben Amorim press conference

Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has been given plenty doses of reality since arriving at Old Trafford but surely there can’t be any more telling than the stadium’s roof leaking into his press conference?

Poetic irony timed to perfection.

Not only did the new head coach have to sit in front of journalists as he tried to wrap his head around another Premier League implosion following the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth – a team now sat in fifth, it’s worth noting – but he also got to witness the condition the stadium first hand.

And when we say first hand, we mean literally right in front of his face.

No wonder they’re crying out for that new stadium.

It’s by no means the first time we’ve seen videos of Old Trafford leaking, not even close, but they’re usually outside – though there was a clip of the away changing room with rainwater pouring out of the ceiling that appeared online.

In this instance, not only was the leak internal but Amorim’s post-match press conference was actually briefly interrupted as drops of water fell on the desk in front of him.

You can hear reporters asking what it is (they knew full well) before United’s press officer can be heard off-camera asking them to quickly move on. Sports writer Sanny Rudravajhala quipped, “A new meaning to the leaks at #mufc”, in reference to dressing room talk and lineups still being fed to the media.

Make what you will of Amorim‘s expressions in this moment but let’s just say he can’t have been expecting to have to worry about things like this when he accepted the job.

A penny for the Portugueseman’s thoughts when he looked up and saw that leak coming from the ceiling:

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The fans are fully aware of how much work needs to be done around the club and to Old Trafford, specifically, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made no bones about expressing the desire to build ‘Wembley of the North’ during his first year at the club.

Although many are deeply reticent to let the iconic Theatre of Dreams go after more than a century of history and sporting memories, scenes like this certainly go a long way to arguing the case for a whole new home ground rather than simply renovating as it appears to be in such a sorry state of disrepair.

But even with a brand-new state-of-the-art footballing arena, it doesn’t do anything to address improving performances on the pitch as even with eye-watering sums invested in the squad over recent years, they still look way off it and serious work needs to be done for them to catch up with the pack.

You can watch the highlights from Man United vs Bournemouth below:

The leaking roof wasn’t the only thing raining down on Amorim as the derby day high was followed by a frustrating festive low.

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Featured Images — BeanymanSports (screenshot via YouTube)

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