Newly promoted Stockport County are set to supply free PE kits to thousands of school kids in and around the local region.
Fresh from another successful domestic campaign, climbing back into League One as Champions after 12 years, the Greater Manchester side is making sure to translate the progress seen on the pitch this season into more positivity across the Stockport area too.
The brand-new initiative set up by the club’s Community Trust arm will see more than 3,500 PE kits delivered to school children across the borough in time for the new term this September, with the goal of handing out a further three-and-a-half times that amount by the end of 2025.
Focusing on primary school ages specifically, the hope is to get more and more kids active and participating in football, sports and other forms of physical education from an early age – a deeply important cause when it comes to the next generation.
Stockport County is delighted to announce the launch of its new Kits by County campaign, as the club aims to raise enough funds to provide 12,500 PE kits for Stockport's Primary School kids.
Stockport County are hoping to give out thousands more free PE kits to Stopfordian kids by September 2025.
Teaming up with school wear manufacturer Trutex, the scheme will ensure that kits adhere to most schools’ standard PE requirements: white polo shirts, a pair of black joggers and a pair of black shorts.
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Better still, the brand has agreed to provide these kits to County and, in turn, to primary school pupils at a significant discount. The importance of drives like this cannot be overstated given the ongoing cost of living crisis being seen all over the country.
Pressures on the family purse continue to be a contributing factor for primary school children not taking part in PE as many families with disposable income struggle to afford the cost of a new PE kit every term.
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As per an official release from the club, half of the local primary school children get their main exercise from PE at school and, sadly, 30% of primary school leavers go into secondary education classed as obese.
That’s where initiatives like this can help make all the difference – as does their regular County Camps sessions, not to mention the annual ‘County in the Park’ event, which lets kids play on the actual pitch at Edgeley at absolutely no cost to parents.
⚽️ Our ever-popular County Camps holiday football sessions are returning this half-term
🥅 Plenty of football-based fun and games for children (including a FREE girls-only session)
Even more concerningly, it was found that not only is turning to school without a PE kit an immediate obstacle that sees many kids sit out lessons but research also found that children were reluctant to borrow PE kits from schools out of embarrassment.
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County Community Trust CEO, Alison Warwood, said: “Not having a PE kit, shouldn’t be what stops children from taking part in physical activity. The school’s ‘lost and found’ bin sadly comes with a playground stigma and if children are to enjoy PE in school, they need their own kit to take pride in.
“As a result, the Club’s owner, Mark Stott has agreed to fund 3,500 PE kits for Stockport primary school kids in September, targeting families most in need, including those who fall outside of traditional indicators such as universal credit and the pupil premium, receiving little-to-no help.”
In the town’s most deprived areas, it’s thought that up to 90% of primary school children could benefit from an initiative such as this. So, the club are also aiming to raise enough money so that it can provide 12,500 PE kits for primary school children in 2025, with £2 from every Stockport County shirt sold next season going towards funding the kits. A great idea for an important cause.
Hatters fans or those simply looking to help do their bit can also make a direct contribution via their dedicated JustGiving page HERE. Let’s make sure the next generation keeps moving.
Bayern Munich reportedly set to target Phil Foden in the summer transfer window
Danny Jones
European giants Bayern Munich are said to be interested in homegrown Manchester City star, and are interested in signing him this coming transfer window.
And if you believe some of the reports circulating around the Stockport-born footballer, he could very well be looking to leave the Etihad in the summer.
Foden seems to have somewhat fallen out of favour at Man City of late, having been benched in four of the last five games, with his overall minutes having been on a gradual slump over recent months; as a result, some sources are suggesting it’s prompted a potential move away.
As per TEAMtalk, the Bundesliga side is hoping to target the City youth product and England international ahead of next season, with former teammate turned Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany very keen on acquiring his services.
Man City have stepped up efforts to secure Phil Foden's future with talks held during the international break and confidence is now growing that a new deal will be finalised before the end of the season, amid Bayern Munich interest, @TEAMtalk can reveal.https://t.co/ScBP5a3a08
Whether or not having a club and Premier League legend in charge would serve as a sweetener for the attacking midfielder or not, who knows?
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, while the gifted playmaker is said to be “frustrated” with the current situation at Man City, the club are believed to have “stepped up efforts to secure the long-term future of Phil Foden, with fresh talks held during the international break”
Having still managed to chip in with 15 goal contributions so far this campaign – two-thirds of those involvements being goals – the hope is that they can tie him down to a new deal long before the end of the season.
There’s no question about his natural talent and versatility across the forward line; it’s just whether or not he’s happy with his game time under Pep Guardiola, which admittedly has often fluctuated ever since he broke into the first team.
Pep has never made a secret of his love for Phil, either; he’s just not afraid to mix things up and try different things given the squad depth at his disposal and other teams in the division becoming increasingly competitive.
It’s also worth noting that many expect him to be in Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineups for the Three Lions at this year’s World Cup.
At present, Foden’s contract is set to expire at the end of the next term (2026/27), but it’s rumoured that he could soon commit to staying until 2030 on paper.
Now 25, the once up-and-coming youngster/’rising star’ is now a fully-fledged senior professional and serial winner.
With many years still ahead of him, you could argue that this is the perfect time to take on a new challenge, or equally, stay with his beloved Blues and extend their modern dynasty as one of the more experienced and decorated members of the dressing room.
As for whether Kompany can convince him to swap his familiar surroundings for a fresh chapter in Germany, or whether or not another big Champions League-level outfit monitoring the situation could come sniffing, only time will tell.
For now, let’s just hope he has an incredible few weeks over in North America this June and July.
A free snooker fan zone has popped up in Manchester for the 2026 Tour Championship
Danny Jones
We’re sure plenty of you are well aware that this year’s WST Sportsbet.io Tour Championship is happening in Manchester right now, but what many of you may not know is that a completely free snooker fan zone has opened up as part of it.
You don’t need a ticket for any of the actual matches to watch them on the big screen or even play one of your own.
However, it isn’t just the buzz inside the match room itself that the World Snooker Tour has brought on its return to the city centre – even the supporter hub outside is well worth a visit.
Based over at Manchester Central on the Exchange side of the building, while the games themselves are taking place in the main rooms, the foyer and surrounding areas have been turned into a fan park.
Perfect for anyone looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or, indeed, a full day this week – not to mention an ideal activity for kids this coming Easter bank holiday weekend – if you’re a fan of the sport, you’d be a fool not to at least pop your head in.
Running until this Sunday, 5 April, when the tournament itself finishes, snooker lovers have access not only to a bar area with multiple big screens and food and drink, but also numerous free tables for them to play on.
In fact, you quickly turn a few frames into some proper practice if you’re so inclined, as there’s even on-site coaching to be made the most of.
As you can see, people of all ages have already turned up in their droves to soak up the atmosphere.
Once again, the competition is being broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 5 if you’re happy to watch the games at home, but we don’t need to tell you what makes sitting in a room with a bunch of fellow fans and getting excited together so enjoyable.
If you visit the Manchester Central convention centre before the end of the week, you can even have a go at playing on a proper king-sized snooker table for the full pro-feel experience.
For anyone who wants to grab actual tickets for the matches as well, you can find them HERE.
Danny Jones -
15th May 2024 
