Man City gift footballs to every primary school pupil in East Manchester

Manchester City and City in the Community shared festive joy this Christmas by donating thousands  of bespoke PUMA footballs, everyday essential items and hours of volunteering to support members of its local community. 

As part of the ‘This City Loves Christmas’ campaign, the Club and City in the Community funded and  delivered a PUMA football to every primary school child in East Manchester and every child in foster  care – a total of 6,000. 

The Club’s charity, City in the Community, donated 7,000 everyday essential items to families and young people across Manchester to ensure they were able to get the help they need this festive season.  

The charity has also funded 2,160 three-course Christmas Day meals to families across Greater  Manchester, who might otherwise go without.  

The Club has also adapted its annual hospital visit to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and will deliver 450 gifts and special video messages from men’s and women’s players to the brave young patients who are away from home in the lead up to Christmas.  

Staff from across the Club also volunteered their time to visit five local charities to support them in the delivery of various activities.

This included the homelessness charities, the Booth Centre and Supporting People In Need (SPIN), Emmeline’s Pantry foodbank and Wythenshawe foodbank, as well as the children’s mental health charity TCP Therapy. 

Manchester City players Rodrigo, Scott Carson and Nathan Ake also dialled into City in the Community programmes and took time to speak with dozens of young people across primary school, high school and college settings.  

Meanwhile, the Women’s First Team gave up their time to purchase, wrap and donated toys to children supported by Wood Street Mission.  

“This has been another challenging year for many families in Manchester, so we wanted to remind our community around us that we are here for them, and we care,” said head of City in the Community, Mike Geary.

“I am incredibly proud of the joint efforts from everyone at City in the Community and the Club to make a difference across Manchester this Christmas.”  

John Stones, who dialled into Ashbury Meadow Primary School when the footballs were delivered to children, said: “I know that the Club and City in the Community are passionate about supporting people within Manchester all year round, but it’s been great to see everyone pull together over the Christmas period. 

“I’ve really enjoyed speaking with the children and seeing the genuine happiness these footballs bring – it makes me especially proud to be a part of the Manchester City family and, on behalf of us all, I’d  like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.”  

Speaking at the school, 10-year-old Sienna said: “It was really nice of John to call into our class and getting to speak with him was really exciting!  

“Receiving a Christmas gift from Manchester City during the call was amazing – we went straight over to the football pitch with them.  

“I really like to play and having a good football like this means I can practice more over Christmas with  my friends.

“Thank you, Man City!”