This Season's Big Coat Day January 3rd vs Ashton United

Last year the impact of the cold winter months on the North West took someone’s life every half hour. FC United of Manchester’s decision to organise the Big Coat Day collection of warm winter clothing at its New Year fixture proved timely. The winter saw the worst ice and snow in almost 40 years. However a fantastic response from the public and FC fans alike saw a 4 ton wall of winter clothing collected to keep the poor and needy warm around the city.

"We are really grateful for Big Coat Day. The two collections produced some very good quality coats and jackets, and now many of the poorest people in Manchester can see out the winter in warmth and comfort." Dave Smith, Director, Boaz Trust

The coming winter presents us with a new challenge so we hope that supporters can help us make a difference by actively supporting Big Coat Day 2011, which will be around the local derby fixture with Ashton United. If you can organise collections of warm winter clothing in your workplaces and get them brought to Gigg Lane, then we can help save lives. If you wish to help out with any of the promotion of the event please contact vinnythompson@fc-utd.co.uk.

The Big Issue is supporting Big Coat Day, along with our charity partners: Mustard Tree and Boaz Trust.

“Big Coat Day may have started in 2005 as a bit of fun to show we had reached our first Xmas, and it still is fun. But it is also an important statement showing that our supporters continue to care for all our community.??? Andy Walsh, FC General Manager


How Big Coat Day 2010 Beat the Big Freeze

Despite being hampered by snowdrifts and roads more treacherous than icebergs, the public responded magnificently by donating four tons of winter clothing for the homeless and needy. Even though the designated FC fixture was called off the previous day MPs, local councillors, representatives of workplaces, schools, community centres, religious groups and FC United fans from as far away as Scotland and Shropshire struggled through the ice and snow to get to Gigg Lane in Bury to deliver their spare clothing. Homeless charities, Mustard Tree, the Boaz Trust and the Salvation Army were on hand to collect the clothing for distribution to the homeless and needy around the city.

Former Old Trafford hero, Lee Sharpe, promised to donate as did comedians, John Henshaw and Justin Moorhouse, Hollyoaks’s actor, Carley Stenson and James Nesbitt.

“Big Coat Day may have started in 2005 as a bit of fun to show we had reached our first Xmas, and it still is fun. But it is also an important statement showing that our supporters continue to care for all our community.??? Andy Walsh, FC General Manager