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.
Co-op Live confirmed as the host venue for the 2026 Netball Super League Grand Final
Danny Jones
Manchester’s Co-op Live has booked its latest big event as the 2026 Netball Super League (NSL) Grand Final is set to be held at the massive indoor venue.
As one of the biggest indoor entertainment venues not just in the country but all of Europe, there’ll be room for plenty of UK fans to pile into the stands.
This being not only the NSL‘s debut at the arena but the first final to ever be held in the building, it’s set to be a historic night for lots of reasons.
Announcing the huge coup – not just for the increasingly popular female-led competition, but for sports fans around Greater Manchester in general – this week, the reaction to the big date on the women’s sporting calendar has been just as big.
As mentioned in an official press release, “The selection of Co-op Live for the 2026 Soft & Gentle Grand Final builds on the arena’s rapid emergence as a global destination for sport and entertainment, following a programme of major global broadcasts across music and sport.”
The 23,500-capacity and completely indoor stadium has quickly established itself as a leading destination for live music and more since it finally opened back in May 2024.
Last year’s Super League Grand Final was held down in the capital at The O2 Arena as the fast-rising franchise London Pulse beat Loughborough Lightning 53–45 to lift the title for the first time in history.
Now, the NSL is looking to capitalise on those record-breaking crowds by bringing the action closer to another foundational home for so many competitive disciplines: Greater Manchester.
With England Netball themselves being headquarted at the England Netball is headquartered at the National Squash Centre and Regional Arena on the Etihad Campus (next door to the arena), choosing Co-op Live only felt natural this time.
Elsewhere, another big tournament is being held up in the North, too, with the Netball Super Cup set be hosted at the Utilita Arena over in Yorkshire – much to our mates at The Sheff‘s delight.
Treat a netball fan in your life ❤️
🤝 Help them start #NSL2026 in style and get them tickets to see the Netball Super Cup live.
As for Co-op Live itself, general manager Guy Dunstan commented: “We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Soft & Gentle Grand Final to Co-op Live and to make history by hosting the first sporting final at the arena.
“Co-op Live was designed to bring people together for unforgettable shared experiences, and this reflects everything [we] stand for: world-class events, inclusivity, community impact and inspiring the next generation. We can’t wait to see Manchester play host to such a landmark moment for the sport.”
As always, official Co-op members get early access through the venue’s dedicated presale window, which will open at 10am on Monday, 2 March.
Meanwhile, general admission will then be available from the same time the following Thursday (5 Mar); you can get ready to grab your tickets for the Netball Super League Grand Final in Manchester at Co-op Live right HERE.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Co-op Live)
Sport
Pep Guardiola delivers important reminder about multiculturalism after Jim Ratcliffe controversy
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered an important message about the power of multiculturalism in his most recent press conference.
Guardiola’s comments come after the high-profile controversy surrounding his rival club across the city, Man United, whose co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, saw some of his recent remarks fall under major scrutiny.
In case you somehow missed it, the Failsworth-born British billionaire was heavily criticised after claiming he believes the UK has been “colonised by immigrants”.
Fast forward a couple of days, and while the club and the fan base are still dealing with the fallout of the story, Pep acknowledged the debate by reminding people that “embracing other cultures” makes for a “better society”.
Well put, Pep – in fact, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Although he didn’t reference the 74-year-old directly after being probed on the subject by journalists, the Man City boss reiterated that his time spent living and working across the world has only broadened his mind and enriched his life.
That goes for both his professional and personal spheres, by the way, as the Catalan coach has often spoken of his love for English culture and the Manc people, specifically.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup game against local side Salford City, Pep described the attitudes towards immigrants around the world as a “big problem” despite most people simply leaving their country in search of “a better life”.
He also drew attention to the fact that he, like so many others in football – a sporting industry loved the world round by people from all walks of life and that the likes of Ratcliffe directly benefit from – is an immigrant working and contributing to not just the game but the British economy by being here.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have since shared a public statement on their club website and across social media, reiterating to fans and supporters the world over that they are an “inclusive club”.
‘We will continue to represent our people, our city and our fans with purpose and pride.’
The INEOS chairman, CEO and minority stakeholder in Manchester United Football Club, has since apologised (at least in part) for his “choice of language” following the divisive interview with Sky News.
In a world where plenty of people are quick to pessimism, negativity and turn to division almost by default, Pep’s message is one echoed by so many and is one that we should all keep in mind.
And for anyone who needs a more light-hearted bit of content on their timeline this week, here’s what else Pep said in his pre-match presser…
Pep Guardiola responding to a really intelligent question from a reporter:
‘Do you want to be my assistant coach, fucking hell, you are brilliant…’
Danny Jones -
20th June 2023 
