Marcus Rashford is planning to release his first children’s novel next year, and he’s drawing on his own childhood for inspiration.
Following on from the release of his first, non-fiction book You Are A Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be – which he wrote with sports journalist Carl Anka, and went on to top the bestseller charts with – as well as launching his very-own book club back in November 2020 to show kids “the power of reading”, Rashford’s new illustrated novel, titled ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’, is aimed at eight to 11-year-olds.
The story will follow the adventures of the 12-year-old Marcus and his “group of unlikely friends” from their school’s breakfast club, said publisher Macmillan Children’s Books.
It will draw on 23-year-old Rashford’s own experiences at breakfast clubs growing up.
The Wythenshaw-born Manchester United and England star has spoken candidly in the past about how his family relied on breakfast clubs and free school meals when he was growing up, and last year, as part of his ongoing campaigning to end child food poverty, backed a cross-party parliamentary bill to fund free breakfast provision in schools.
Rashford is teaming up with award-winning author Alex Falase-Koya – who took home the Spread the Word’s London’s Writers Awards in 2019, and is the author of the forthcoming superhero series ‘Marv’ – to write the new novel.
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Excited to announce the release of my first fiction book ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’ coming May 2022 📚
Aimed at 8-11 year olds, the book is co-written with the brilliant @AlexFKoya and published by @MacmillanKidsUK
Speaking ahead of the launch of the novel, Rashford said: “I wanted to create something that really captured the true spirit of breakfast club [as] outside of making sure we got the best start to our days with cereal, toast and juice, it was where my friendships were made.
“Where we could just lose ourselves – a safe haven.”
“Breakfast club was where some of my greatest memories were formed, where we talked about our dreams and where adventures were planned, and it was important for me that we captured that in my first fiction book.”
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He added: “Alex is a great writer who is able to capture that brilliantly and I’m thrilled that he’s on this journey with me.”
Falase-Koya also said he was “very excited” to be working with Rashford, adding: “Books changed my life when I was a kid, making me take a closer look at the things around me and taking me to worlds far from my own [and] I hope that this book gets the opportunity to do the same for other people.”
The Breakfast Club Adventures will be published in May 2022.
Featured Image – Twitter (@MarcusRashford)
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Greater Manchester cinemas to screen family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films, and some new releases, all throughout this upcoming spring holidays.
The best bit? Prices start from a massively-affordable £2.50 a ticket.
With Easter right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester set to be on their spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained while schools are out.
But now it’s time to take care of those film lovers… and also those keen to plan budget-friendly events that also take into account the classic Manchester April showers.
Cinema chain Vue has announced its lineup of family blockbusters showing at venues across Greater Manchester this spring – including Printworks, Lowry, Bolton, Altrincham, and Bury.
Arriving in time for the school holidays, A Minecraft Movie welcomes fans to their favourite cubic wonderland, while the whole family can instead transport themselves into Disney’s reimagining of the 1937 classic Snow White if they’d prefer.
Also returning to the big screen are childhood classics like Wallace & Gromit: Curse of The Were-Rabbit, 20 years after its original release, and the beloved Babe, to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring / Credit: Disney | Aardman Animations
And as part of Vue’s ‘Mighty Mornings’ offering, film fans can enjoy pre-releases of family-friendly flicks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Moana 2 every day throughout half term, all from just £2.49 per ticket when booked online.
“A trip to Vue this Easter break is the perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the magic of their favourite big screen characters,” commented Rob Lea, who is the Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland.
“More than just entertainment, it’s a chance for children and parents to switch off, connect, and create lasting memories together.”
Featured Image – Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
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Pep Guardiola delivers gutting news as Man City are hit with Erling Haaland injury blow
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has passed on some gutting fitness news for Manchester City fans as star striker Erling Haaland is confirmed to be injured for several weeks and could even miss the rest of the Premier League season.
The title might be out of reach this year, and the Champions League knockout against Real Madrid was definitely hard for Blues to take, but with Man City into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, there’s still a very strong chance they could end 2024/25 with a piece of silverware.
However, they’ll have to make it through another two massive rounds at Wembley and seemingly the remainder of the season without Haaland and his goals, as the Catalan coach revealed that the club expects him to be out injured for “six to seven weeks.”
Not exactly how City fans would have wanted to see the rest of an already frustrating season play out.
🗣️ "We don't have another player with his skills."
Relaying diagnosis from the medical team, Pep said the hope is that the big Norwegian number nine could be back for the very tail end of the campaign, but at the very least, he “will be ready for the [FIFA Club] World Cup.”
He went on to add that “these kinds of things happen” and that he feels “sorry” for all of the other injuries that have befell his squad up till now, adding that they can only hope for a speedy recovery and for him to return as soon as possible.
The 24-year-old hasn’t had too many big injury problems in his career thus far, although his longest spell on the sidelines did come at the end of 2023 when a stress fracture kept him out until the new year.
This time around, Haaland suffered an injury to his ankle during the City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth on Sunday following a challenge from defensive midfielder Lewis Cook.
He was forced in the second half and was seen leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches after the game.
Erling Haaland seen leaving Bournemouth in a protective boot and crutches. 🤕
Having led the golden boot race for a good chunk of the season – as he’s become accustomed too since he arrived in England – City‘s sub-optimal season has seen him slink into second behind high-flying Mo Salah on 27, but he still has a couple dozen goals and a trio of assists to show for it.
Speaking of Salah, the soon-to-leave ‘Egyptian King’ has been the talisman for Liverpool this season, and his contributions could see them lift the trophy in Arne Slot’s first season as early as 13 April, depending on how fellow title rivals Arsenal fare in their next two matches.
As for how City round out their domestic campaign, reclaiming the FA Cup after last year’s derby disappointment looks like the main goal.
You can watch Pep Guardiola’s press conference ahead of the game against Leicester City at 19:45pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 2 April) in full HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd December 2021 
