FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester Badge FC United of Manchester Pitch In

Ten Acres Lane Family Fun Day draws the crowds

Sunday 27th June, that crucial day for the England football team, nevertheless saw more than 1,000 local residents visiting FC United’s Family Fun Day on the proposed site for the club’s new community sports stadium in Newton Heath, Manchester.

FCUM radio was on hand to deliver an eclectic musical mix to the crowds and deal with requests. At the rear of the sports hall a free kids’ commando course was set up and was soon full of young lads and girls keeping fit and tackling the course.

Alongside this was an inflatable football arena where a mini world cup was in session staffed by FC United coaches and volunteers.

One resident made it clear what they though of the event and club’s arrival in the area:

"Everybody in Newton Heath will be up for it and all the areas around. Build the ground and they will come, I know they will come. Today has been top, a belting day.

"England is playing in the World Cup yet still loads turned out for this. People have such a love of this area - this was where Manchester United was born. Like salmon swim upstream, you always return to where you were born."??

A variety of stalls reflecting the club’s community ethos and a mini fun fair greeted visitors. An FC United healthy eating stall was kept busy preparing and giving out fruit kebabs, smoothies and other wholesome goodies

Two separate seven-a-side football tournaments took place on the all weather pitches. A girl’s tournament and a 16 to 19-year-olds lad’s tournament. Amongst the teams represented were two teams from Oldham Athletic, FC Manchester, Denton Girls, North West United, Miles Platting, the Outcasts and Barnardos. The girl’s tournament was won by FC Manchester and the lads’ tournament by the Outcasts. All received medals and cups.

Andy Walsh, General Manager of FC United reflected: "The day was a great success. We had well over a thousand attend the event and enjoyed the sunshine, activities and community stalls.

"We spoke to numerous residents who are looking forward to the redevelopment of the Ten Acre Lane site and presenting their ideas re the development."

This was also another step in the consultation process towards the redevelopment of the site into FC United’s new community stadium. Inside the hall by far the busiest area was around the display stands with the plans for the new stadium manned by FC United board members, architects, planners and consultants. This was constantly crowded with both local residents and FC fans wanting to see and discuss the stadium plans.

Local residents expressed how much FC United arriving in Newton Heath would mean for the area:

"It’s going to be good for the community. The estate where you want to build the stadium has had little input from anyone for the last 30 years, so it’s fantastic that this day is going on. Some people that I work with are running a girls group and one of your representatives has been working with them so I think it’s very good. Bring it on."??

"It’s going to be for the community and Newton Heath has needed something like this for a long time, a very long time."??

"This could kick-start a new era for Newton Heath. It’s been a great day and the plans look brilliant."??

Other organisations with stalls attended included The Co-operative Group who, along with Zest Healthy Living network, donated fair trade fruit, tea bags and coffee to the day, Peoples Voice Media and Manchester Credit Union.

The sun might not have shone on the England football team on this particular day but it shone on FC United and the people of Newton Heath.



First Posted ~ 16:56 Thu 8 Jul 2010
News ID ~ 2955
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021