“My local shopping centre is the size of this food hall.”
Lots of locals have said that it’s actually quite touching to see people experiencing the shopping centre – something we all take for granted – for the first time.
One person commented: “Watching people experience the Trafford Centre for the first time is my favourite thing.”
Salford City ‘extremely disappointed’ in Yorkshire Police’s investigation after racist abuse
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have issued a statement expressing their disappointment with Yorkshire Police and the force’s final decision regarding a racist incident earlier this year.
Local authorities in the region opened an investigation into allegations of racism and verbal abuse during a pre-season game between Salford and York City FC back in July.
Now, just over a month later, North Yorkshire Police have concluded their investigation and decided not to pursue charges against the accused individual – an outcome that SCFC have not taken lightly.
Issuing an extensive and frustrated response online, they wrote: “Salford City Football Club is extremely disappointed with the findings of the investigation by North Yorkshire Police (NYP), and the subsequent decision not to charge the individual responsible for the racist abuse aimed at Adebola Oluwo.”
“It is particularly concerning how the investigation concludes that there is no evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, despite a number of first-hand accounts of the abuse from those present at the fixture.
“This includes [by] the match officials, who we know, through discussions with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), gave verbal statements on the night and provided their details for the investigating team to follow up, but have not been contacted.”
Oluwo signed for Salford this summer from Barnet FC on a two-year deal, but sadly faced racist abuse before his debut season with the club had even begun.
The 25-year-old explained how “monkey noises” were made in his direction; sitting down with various other senior figures from within the club and around the administration, he and the likes of head coach Karl Robinson made it clear that this kind of treatment is simply unacceptable.
We urge you to watch this in full.
The club statement continues: “Having spoken with Adebola and sought further advice on the matter, including legal, we will be exercising the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme to request an independent review to reconsider this outcome.
“Our players, coaching staff, members and everybody at our Club stand united with Adebola, and we have also engaged the English Football League (EFL), the Professional Footballers ‘ Association (the players’ union), and Kick It Out, who have all offered their full and unequivocal support for the review application.
“The match officials, supported by their governing body PGMO, remain available to be contacted to provide their impartial accounts of events that evening. We will pursue every available avenue to ensure accountability, and together send a clear message that racism has no place in our sport.”
SCFC sign off by insisting that they will be adding no further comment, but supporters, both local and beyond, have certainly had plenty to say online.
York City themselves made it clear at the time that everyone assosciated with the fellow League Two side categorically “condemns racism in all forms” and assured they would cooperate with Salford and the police service on the investigation.
York City Football Club are horrified to learn of allegations of racial abuse aimed at Salford City players in this evening’s pre-season match.
Both clubs, alongside the match officials, decided to take both teams off the pitch at that time.
While it is distressing to learn that NYP won’t be proceeding with the hate crime that was so openly and emotionally acknowledged by both teams, ‘The Minstermen’ did reiterate that the 23-year-old arrested at the time “will face the strongest possible sanctions from the club.”
In terms of the update from ‘The Ammies’, one user replied: “North Yorkshire police? Failure to bring charges? Suggesting [a] lack of evidence? Nooooooo, never. They don’t seem the type.”
Another added: “Was this case referred to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], who decided not to charge; or did North Yorkshire Police not refer it to them for a decision? Tough to know who to be p***ed-off with until that is clear.”
We can only echo the post shared by Salford City FC and stress how disheartening it is to still see situations like this arising. It also goes without saying that we send our support to Adebola Oluwo and everyone at the club during this difficult time.
Not only is ‘the beautiful game’ for everyone, but the only way we can ever even hope for racism to be completely kicked out of football is for decisive, consistent and punitive action to be taken in moments like this and more often, as we know the number of incidents that occur is far higher than those reported.
Featured Images — Emessem T/Salford City FC (screenshot via YouTube)
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J.W. Lees is celebrating the return of Boddingtons by giving away 500 FREE pints
Danny Jones
Local brewery J.W. Lees is celebrating the return of Boddingtons in the best way possible: by giving away 500 FREE pints of ‘the Cream of Manchester’ this weekend.
We can’t lie, you had us at free pints.
In case you hadn’t heard the news – and what we consider a bit of an early Christmas present – legendary Manc beer Boddingtons is back in a very big way, with the beloved beer returning to the taps in various pockets around Greater Manchester.
Better yet, ‘Boddies’ has also returned just in time for Britain’s National Cask Ale Week, and let’s just say we’ve been spreading that all-important awareness by necking as many as possible. Now it’s your turn.
You heard the man/saw in the big beer costume; Boddingtons and their life-sized pint impersonator will be touring Manchester city centre to help toast the region’s most legendary drink (sorry, Vimto) as it makes its glorious comeback.
More importantly, his presence also accompanies a huge giveaway, as the brand is giving away a whopping 500 pints this Saturday. Yes, five bloody hundred.
Let it be known that this offer is for one day only, though, so if you fancy a freebie so frothy you practically stick a flake in it, you’d best keep your eyes peeled for the bloke who looks so good you could drink him.
So this is how it works: punters must approach the walking, talking pint of ale to claim their voucher, which can then be handed into select locations in exchange for a free beer. We’re sure that grabbing a quick selfie won’t hurt your chances either.
Along with some help from Budweiser, the native beer-masters are the equally iconic brand behind the grand Boddingtons renaissance, so you have J.W. Lees to thank.
The Manc must confess that we had the honour—nay, the privilege of sampling ‘Boddies 2.0’ before the rest of you, and the revival recipe is even better than we dreamed of.
We even saw the world’s first ‘split the B’ by David Boddington, a descendant of creator Henry himself, as famous faces like artist Stanley Chow, chef Simon Rimmer, presenter Matty White and more cheered him from the other side of the bar.
The beers were free-flowing at the official relaunch party at Founder’s Hall on Albert Square on Tuesday, 23 September, where quite literally hundreds piled into the pub to get a taste of the Northern nectar, which is sure to branch back out of 0161 soon enough.
It’s just a matter of time, if you ask us.
Once again, be on the lookout for the man in honey yellow fancy dress this Saturday, 27 September, from 12 noon until approximately 4pm to score your complimentary beer, and you can find the full list of pubs taking part in the Boddingtons free pints giveaway down below. Cheers!
Daisy Jackson -
7th April 2022 
