Beloved Manchester United superfan Kevin Peek has sadly passed away at the age of 65 as hordes of fellow fans join in paying tribute to a legendary lifelong Red.
The well-known supporter had been going to watch Man United games home, away and even abroad since the 1972/73 season and was a popular and dedicated face among the Disabled Supporters’ Association (MUDSA) for several decades.
Born in Eccles in Salford, Peek watched on from the disabled section at Old Trafford every week and has appeared in many official videos down the years as an advocate for the club. He is said to have died on Monday this week, though the exact nature of his death is yet to be fully confirmed.
With matchday fans and supporters groups from all around the world recognising his unmistakable, unshakeable smile and paying tribute to him online, it’s clear the club have lost a truly special member of the Manchester United family.
RIP Kevin Peek one of the nicest people you could ever meet, always use to have a little chat and a bit of banter up in the disabled section,massive red and will be missed 💔
Very sad to wake up to the news that Kevin Peek has passed away. Kevin Peek from Salford watched Manchester United home, away and abroad since the 80s.
As you can see, United We Stand (UWS) founder and editor Andy Mitten is one of countless who have paid tribute to the iconic Red, noting how he appeared in the outlet’s podcast multiple times and will receive a “full obituary in the next UWS” issue.
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Whether it’s former players like David May or fans who came across him around the stadium, week in, week out, they’ve all made clear how he touched their lives and wore his colours on his sleeve. He also used to run a computer workshop in Patricroft, holding classes and teaching computer skills to locals,
He then went on to open up legendary caff and catering company, Porky Pig over in Salford which, as well as serving locals in the area for decades, has long been posting up outside Old Trafford to serve the matchday masses.
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Writing in a Salford Media post, reporter and historian Tony Flynn remembered him fondly as “a remarkable character who didn’t let his physical disabilities hold him back”, having been diagnosed with brittle bone disease, and who could be regularly found “playing pool and loving life” with his local team in Eccles.
Issuing a heartfelt statement following the news of his death, the club noted how how ‘Little Kev’ being one of “only a handful of disabled fans made the trip to Barcelona for the 1999 treble-winning Champions League final and, although the trip was plagued with difficulties, Kev remembered a moment that summed up the glory of football to him.”
He was known for travelling to every game he possibly could even when there wasn’t proper disabled access, famously telling tales of how groups of supporters would “pick [him] up and put the wheelchair in the back” of the minibus on their way to European games away against the likes of Legia Warsaw.
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Well-known to Sir Alex Ferguson, he and Peek would regularly chat in the middle of games back in the day and MUDSA secretary Chas Banks said that the die-hard Red Devil epitomised the dedication to the club’s disabled community and vice-versa, insisting that “Kev spent his whole life doing that”.
Rest in peace to a legend, he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family and all the United faithful he came across down the years.
While this new venture is focused on youth football, it’s their second in the United States after New York City FC and could help create new pro pathways into the sport at a grassroots level.
Introducing CFG franchise number 13: Man City North Texas FC.
As per an official statement on their website, “Man City North Texas FC delivers youth soccer programs for boys and girls aged 8–19, led by Manchester City coaches and built on the same coaching methodology developed within the Club.
“Every session is designed to help players become better soccer players, technically, tactically, and mentally, through modern, enjoyable training that builds confidence on and off the pitch.”
Basically serving as another academy setup across the pond, North Texas FC will no doubt help not only develop and create opportunities for aspiring young footballers over in the US, but likely serve as yet another feeder programme/outlet for tapping up the latest American talents.
We’ve already seen fairly recently examples such as ex-players Jack Harrison and Zack Steffen coming through the likes of New York and remaining on City’s wider books and either making the move over for a taste of first-team football or being loaned out to other teams.
Even if they ultimately go on to be sold, the aim is to help nurture youngsters and promise three main takeaways: an “authentic Manchester City methodology”, delivered by actual MCFC coaches, and a clear development pathway.
CITYCOACH gives coaches around the world access to the Manchester City methodology – sharing the knowledge, practices, and philosophy that shape how we develop players at every level ⚽️
This most recent ‘youth soccer club’ is just the latest in a long line of fresh Manchester City Football Programs created over the past decade or so, with coaching now being provided to children of all ages across a total of 38 cities in 14 countries.
At present, more than 40,000 kids are estimated to participate in these schemes every year, and thanks to Man City North Texas FC, that number is set to climb even further.
So, if you or someone you know happens to be based in or near the ‘Mean Green’ sporting hub of the ‘Lone Star State’, you can register interest HERE.
Meanwhile, in news closer to home, there are plenty of other big developments happening over at the Etihad Campus. Find out more down below.
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Danny Jones -
20th June 2023 
