Manchester United have asked any fans with spare warm clothes to bring them along to the derby this weekend as they continue their ‘Warm Hub’ community initiative this winter.
While most fans will obviously be fixated on what happens on the pitch come 12:30pm on Saturday, the club are once again reminding us that many have more important things to worry about than football.
Following the surge in energy prices and overall cost of living crisis, more than 3,700 warm banks have been set up across the UK in the past few months to support those who sadly cannot afford to keep the heating on.
One of those sites is located at Old Trafford, inside the Red Cafe to be specific, which opened on 6 December and provides a safe, heated space for the people who need it most in the local community. This latest community benefit marks the Warm Hub being extended for another six weeks.
.@ManUtd and supporters of the campaign are also holding a charity sleepout in the Munich Tunnel this evening. ❤️https://t.co/oOdOGyDUX2
Alongside providing hot drinks, snacks, entertainment and ‘talking benches’ to provide visitors and those battling loneliness with an outlet to communicate and feel welcome, they are now encouraging fans to donate any unwanted layers as part of a crucial new clothes drive.
ADVERTISEMENT
Created as part of the larger ‘United By Your Side’ campaign, which included a stadium sleepout for charity last month, this latest step sees the club going further when it comes to community action by asking supporters to get involved on their way to the ground.
Setting up collection points all around the ground, all fans need to do is drop off their coats, jumpers, scarves, hats, gloves etc. on their way into the stadium and do their bit for those struggling during these colder months.
ADVERTISEMENT
Issuing a statement on the club website, the United Foundation‘s chief exec John Shiels highlighted how the organisation is working “all-year-round to increase opportunities for vulnerable young people”, but that they also feel “an extra responsibility during the winter”.
💭 Will you be at Old Trafford for the derby on Saturday?
👉 We kindly ask you to please bring any spare clothes, which will be donated to people in need across the Greater Manchester community. #MUFC
That being said, although the Manchester derby is typically a day where the city splits in two and revels in the long-standing rivalry, the club are still focused on doing what they can to “ease some of the pressures facing our community”, especially during these difficult times.
Moreover, as mentioned, the fresh schedule of Warm Hub evenings start on Tuesday 17 January between 5-8pm and are, of course, free of charge to anyone who wants to come along. Those arriving can register via the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand reception and will be guided to the Red Cafe.
ADVERTISEMENT
Red or blue aside, it’s good to see important Manchester institutions contributing to the community and encouraging their loyal supporters to follow suit.
Be sure to bring your spare warm clothes if you heading to the game on Saturday.
Manchester Marathon to host the 2025 English Championships
Danny Jones
More running pedigree beckons for 0161 as this year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon has been officially selected as the host of the 2025 English Championships.
Set to take place on Sunday, 27 April, which is now the UK’s largest day of running in recent history with the London Marathon taking place simultaneously down the other end of the country, Greater Manchester is once again set to transform into one of the most popular races in Europe.
Known as favourite personal bests given its ‘fantastically flat’ nature, an estimated 36,000 runners are set to descend on the city centre and beyond, with countless more expected to spectate.
With the Manchester Marathon officially being selected for this year’s national championships by England Athletics, there’s even more reason to line the streets.
We are delighted to announce that England Athletics have selected us to host the English Championships 2025! 🏆We’ll be welcoming some of the best endurance athletes to the iconic 26.2-mile course in April.
As per an official update on the race website, the elite competition is due to see more than 50 athletes compete for titles, including 22 participants currently in the Men’s Category and 29 in the Women’s.
The line-up at present includes 2024 Men’s winner Adam Clarke, who finished the event in a ridiculous 02:16:29 last April and, fingers crossed, Women’s champion Charlie Arnell is expected to defend her title this year too.
Arnell, who won on her marathon debut, completed the Women’s race last year in a stunning 02:37:12 – a feat she trained for all whilst full-time for the NHS clinical systems team.
Simply staggering stuff.
The fierce competition between the elite waves will begin first thing on event day before the hordes of runners eventually follow in their wake, and we’re sure it’s going to be an absolute blockbuster.
As well as hosting the English Championships, this year will also mark the first new finish line in some time as the 2025 Manchester Marathon as the home stretch has been changed from the familiar tarmac of Talbot Road.
Last year’s Manchester Marathon was one of the biggest ever, not only seeing record numbers of participants but nearly £30 million raised for the local economy and £3.7m for charities alone.
A member of The Manc or two may or may not also be taking part again this year – by which we mean they definitely are – so watch this space and we hope to see you cheering on the sidelines.
Public places for this year’s marathon have well and truly sold out but you can still register your interest for 2026 HERE.
Indoor golf bar with state-of-the-art simulators to open in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A stylish new bar is heading to Manchester where you can play simulator golf and shuffleboard with late-night DJs soundtracking your swing.
Pitch will be branching up north from London in March, promising 10 state-of-the-art simulator bays, a TRENDYGOLF concept store and plenty more.
The brand is set to open at Goods Yard, alongside Caravan (another London export) and Fenix.
Pitch says its arrival to Manchester will ‘change the way the sport is played in the city centre’, making golf more diverse and accessible to all.
Visitors to the stylish space, which will be open seven days a week, will be able to recreate the experience of real golf through their high-tech simulator technology.
You’ll be able to virtually visit the world’s most famous courses, including the Old Course at St Andrews Links and Pebble Beach in California.
Inside Pitch, there’ll also be a sleek bar and kitchen with a wide range of cocktails and dishes, including an Asian-inspired ’18 Greens’ menu.
The new venue will also extend the brand’s academy for beginner women golfers, in partnership with Adidas, which has welcomed more than 1,000 golfers in London.
The on-site TRENDYGOLF Concept Store will be open six days a week stocking brands like Lindeberg, Hugo Boss, Manors, Malbon Golf, Ralph Lauren and G/FORE.
Pitch is opening its first bar in Manchester, with golf simulators and more
Pitch co-founder and CEO Elliot Godfrey said: “We’re very excited to open our first venue in Manchester at the start of 2025, giving Pitch a presence in one of the UK’s busiest cities and one with a special relationship with sport.
“When we began the process of expanding beyond London, Manchester was one of the first places we set our sights on, and it’s fitting to open our innovative concept somewhere that has always striven to be at the forefront of development and progress.
“Pitch venues are the perfect places for social gatherings, and it is a way of playing and engaging with the game that is open to everyone.”
Co-founder Chris Ingham added: “Enterprise City is the perfect setting for a Pitch venue and our new branch will become part of one of the UK’s best social and cultural hotspots when it opens.
“With a TRENDYGOLF Concept Store and no shortage of food and drink options, we envision this being a place where Mancunians can spend hours socialising, golfing and dining in style.”
Pitch Manchester will open its golf bar at Goods Yard in March 2025.
Danny Jones -
12th January 2023 
