Umbro to sponsor homeless football competition at Etihad – plus ticket raffle

 

Umbro, the Manchester-based sports giant, is to sponsor an eleven-a-side football tournament for homeless people from Greater Manchester.

 

 

The tournament will be hosted at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March. The first match will kick off at 11am and final whistle is expected at around 8pm each day.

 

Inspired by the success of the Homeless World Cup, the Umbro Manchester Homeless Cup will see local people from disadvantaged backgrounds compete in a series of knockout rounds.

 

There will be separate men’s and women’s competitions. The two winning teams, male and female, will win the inaugural Umbro Manchester Homeless Cup trophies, plus sportswear and football gear made by the famous brand.

 

“The event gives me something to look forward to. Something to work towards. It’s been great, getting together with the girls to train for the cup. It gives me real focus.”

Lucy Ford, 36, Bury

 

Tickets for the event cost £5. All proceeds from sales will go to local homeless charities, including Crisis and Shelter.

 

Anyone who purchases a ticket through the Manchester Evening News’ website will automatically be entered into a raffle to win Umbro football gear, including the company’s revolutionary Velocita Alchemist boots. There will be ten lucky winners.

 

“This event will hugely benefit the people involved. It will tackle the stigma surrounding homelessness, showing that these people have hopes and dreams. They are not mere statistics. Competing in a tournament, in front of crowds, will help foster a strong sense of purpose and much-needed belonging for those participating.”

Charlie Trew, Shelter, Head of Policy

 

The charity Shelter states that over 270,000 people in the UK are homeless. And almost half of that number are children.

 

The Umbro event will raise awareness of homelessness in a positive way, whilst supporting local homeless individuals.

 

Notes

• Etihad Stadium, Ashton New Road, Manchester M11 3FF. Kick off 11am, Friday 17 March
• Umbro’s links with Manchester City stretch back decades. City won the FA Cup in 1934 wearing an Umbro-made strip
• Photos of local homeless people taking part in football events are provided (along with names, ages, and hometowns)
• Logo of the Umbro Manchester Homeless Cup is provided