It feels like we’ve been saying this for a while now, right? But with less than a week to go before it finally rolls around, the big day is bound to be here before we know it.
We all know by now that the festive season is gearing up to be a little different this year though, with the UK government having sadly conceded that “Christmas cannot be normal” amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and while it has been announced that up to three families can form a Christmas bubble between 23rd – 27th December, for a lot of people, this still means there will be friends and family members they are unable to spend time with.
This is probably why we’re all putting a little extra thought into our gift giving this time round, but for some of us though, even with all the best intentions, there are still a few presents yet to be bought.
Luckily, The Manc Store is the perfect place for those who are always on the last minute.
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If you’re looking for an opportunity to shop local and support small business this Christmas, there’s a wide range of Manchester-themed apparel pieces stocked on our site, and if you get your orders in by 17th December at 11.59pm (for Standard Delivery), or the same time on 19th December (Express Delivery), then each of these items will arrive to the front door of all UK customers before Christmas Day.
Here’s five of our favourites.
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Gail Platted Unisex Sweatshirt
£26.99
Get ‘Gail Platted’ this Christmas whether you’re drinking or not with what is possibly the greatest Coronation Street-themed jumper on the planet. With ribbed collars, cuffs and hem, this sweatshirt is a cosy solution to the cold, and is perfect for layering.
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This unisex jumper is available in sizes S – XXL, and comes in a range of four festive colours.
Coming in a stylish fit and made out of 100% cotton, this is classic t-shirt is by far one of our most popular products for kids, as is the babygrow – which is soft and cosy, fully machine washable and with lap shoulders to change your baby’s outfit easily – and are both a must-have for showing off their passion for our city.
Both the unisex t-shirt and babygrows are available in a range of sizes and colours.
Our popular ‘Worker Bee’ range comes in all sorts of variations, but one of our most popular pieces has to be this relaxed fit hoodie, which features ribbed cuffs and a front pocket, and even has a small hidden opening for earphone cord feed too.
This is our favourite hoodie of the season, for sure.
This unisex hoodie comes in a classic fit, and is available in sizes S – 5XL.
This is your chance to rep your city in our hugely-popular ‘Rainy City’ gear.
A wardrobe staple – coming in a classic style for men, and a semi-fitted style for women – these relaxed-fit t-shirts will update any look, and are part of our best-selling range, which also features sweaters, mugs and tote bags too.
There’s no better way to fly the flag for Manchester.
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This t-shirt is made out of 100% cotton, and is available in sizes S – 5XL.
Liam Gallagher bites back after Fontaines D.C. say ‘they couldn’t give a sh*t’ about the Oasis reunion
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher has fired back at Fontaines D.C. after two members of the popular Irish band said “they couldn’t give a sh*t” about the Oasis reunion.
Not unlike Oasis, the Dubliners might be one of the biggest bands on the planet right now and after they were asked about the reunion that shook the world in an interview about their new album, Romance, guitarist Carlos O’Connell and bassist Conor Deegan III were pretty blunt in response.
Speaking to Studio Brussel, O’Connell simply said: “I couldn’t really give a shit, to be honest”, with Deegan adding: “I’m not excited about it either, to be honest, because I just feel like we get caught in the last era, like the 2010s, into such a nostalgic thing that we’re forgetting to make new things.”
He goes on to say, “I feel like what we were wanting to do with this record anyway was to look into the future and make new things… So for Oasis to reform at this moment for us is really annoying.”
And just as it seems the rising alternative and post-punk outfit are a little bit miffed about the Burnage boys coming back and maybe stealing a little bit of their thunder, Liam Gallagher himself doesn’t seem particularly keen on Fontaines either.
Kicking off the indirect exchange by simply replying to a clip of the interview with one line – “State of ’em” – fans needed little convincing that the 51-year-old could be roped into a social media rant given how active he’s been since news of the reunion broke.
“They look like sh*t” and after someone jokingly said, “So they aren’t supporting you on tour as rumoured then”, Liam simply added, “Are they f**k.”
Reacting to reports about the straightforward frontman looking to recruit ‘established acts’ to support him and his brother on Oasis’ reunion trail – though his son Gene’s band has also been linked with the tour – on X, the mere suggestion of Fontaines D.C led to this extremely colourful phrase:
As you can see, he did receive some support for his clap-back, with one viral post reading: “Any B-side from OASIS is much better than the best Fontaines D.C. single. They’re lucky that today’s music is sh*t, in the 90s they would be working at a McDonald’s.”
While some fans of both bands might have been a little gutted to see the two beefing so publicly, especially since they’re each riding such a massive high right now, Fontaines’ lead singer and lyricist Grian Chatten did offer some relief by clarifying that he strictly didn’t share the same thoughts.
Commenting underneath NME’s coverage of the spat on Instagram, 29-year-old Chatten insisted, “I love Oasis. This is not my opinion.” Hopefully, the two frontmen can patch things up at least and then, who knows, maybe we get an absolutely unreal support act for those Croke Park shows?
Hey, if Oasis can get back together then anything’s possible…
Featured Images — Warner Music Sweden (via Wikimedia Commons)/Studio Brussel (via YouTube)
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The hearing over Manchester City’s 115 FFP charges will officially start next week
Danny Jones
After more than a year of speculation as to when proceedings will finally start, it has been confirmed that the hearing regarding Manchester City and their 115 FFP charges is set to begin next week.
Man City were first slapped with the laundry list of alleged breaches of FFP (financial fair play) and failure to comply with Premier League rules on profit and sustainability (PSR) back in February 2023, but little movement on the case has been reported since then.
In that time, they also won the coveted Treble and their record-breaking fourth league title in a row; meanwhile, the club have continued to deny all claims of rule-breaking.
However, it has now been revealed that City‘s hearing will now kick off on Monday, 16 September.
BREAKING: The hearing over Manchester City's 115 charges will start on Monday 🚨 pic.twitter.com/9ujOCryVMF
As explained in various reports, given the extended nature of the claims made against the Manchester side, it is estimated that the case could run on for up to two months if not longer.
Furthermore, it is thought a decision isn’t expected to arrive until spring 2025 – again, this is simply due to the number of charges brought up over the best part of a decade.
In case you need a refresher, the allegations levelled at Man City date back to 2009 and concern a supposed nine years of financial irregularities, as well as subverting UEFA FFP rules.
Some of the accusations made against them also include failing to cooperate with the European football body and the Premier League, as well as offering ‘secret contracts’ so as to pay one particular manager a larger sum than what they recorded in their financial statements.
The final verdict, whenever it is reached, will be handed down by an independent commission and City will still be able to make an official appeal.
It goes without saying that were they to be found guilty, it would be the biggest financial scandal in English football history and could be seismic for the future of money in the sport and regulations surrounding ownership, which have already grown tighter following the charges being issued.
And in case you needed a more detailed refresher on what exactly they are being tried for and what the possibilities are regarding punishment if found guilty, here’s a quick rundown: