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FC United: Doing our bit to help others this winter

FC United: Doing our bit to help others this winterWe are pleased to announce that we will once again be opening our football ground on Christmas Day to provide some Christmas comforts to the homeless in Manchester - But that’s not all, we will collecting food for local food banks, toys for children in local Women’s Refuges and local families and we’ve got our annual Big Coat Day for the homeless.


FOOD COLLECTION FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS – Saturday 2nd December

As part of our commitment to our local community, we will be collecting tinned food and dry goods for local food banks in Moston and Newton Heath before the home match against Harrogate Town on Saturday 2nd December. We’ll have a shopping trolley positioned outside the SMRE turnstiles on Saturday, so please bring along any tinned food or dry goods and drop them off between 12pm until 3pm.

FC United of Manchester
Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road,
Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ

CHRISTMAS DAY FOR THE HOMELESS AT BROADHURST PARK

FC United’s Broadhurst Park football ground will once again open on Christmas Day to help provide some Christmas comforts to the homeless in Manchester.

Toiletries and towels will be provided to allow everyone the opportunity to have a hot shower, and we’ll also be cooking up a hearty breakfast in the function room which overlooks the pitch. In addition, there will also be a range of activities available including Table Football, Table Tennis, Pool, XBOX, PS4 and various arts and crafts to bring some Christmas cheer to those attending.

We are working in partnership with The Homeless Manchester Project and Depaul UK.

We would also like to thank the following companies who supporting us with the project.

- J.W. Buckley of Uppermill
- Waitrose
- Bidfood
- Go Outdoors

If you work for a company that would like to support us on this and our other winter initiatives please contact Vinny Thompson at vinny.thompson@fc-utd.net or ring the office on 0161 769 2005

The ground (full address below) will open on Christmas Day between 9am and 2pm.

FC United of Manchester
Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road,
Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ

People wanting to make their own way to the ground can do so, but a minibus, will pick people up from Piccadilly Gardens at 9.15am, 10am, 10.45am, 11.30am and drop them off in Manchester afterwards.

Last year over 40 people were looked after by a large number of FC United volunteers.

If anyone would like to volunteer this year, either on the day or in the build-up, please contact us immediately.

Or if you are able to donate any of the following items, please contact Vinny Thompson at vinny.thompson@fc-utd.net or ring the office on 0161 769 2005

- Sleeping bags (not duvets)
- Rucksacks/ bags
- New underwear, Socks, Scarves, Warm hats, Gloves, Trainers
- Toiletries, Wet wipes

Here’s what happened last year.
MEN Story featuring a video about the last years Xmas Day opening

FCUM Radio Feature



TOY COLLECTION – Monday 11th to Friday 15th December

In the run up to Christmas, we will be accepting donations of new toys which will be distributed to children in local Women’s Refuges and local families who may struggle at Christmas. If you would like to donate any new toys then please bring them along to Broadhurst Park from Monday 11th to Friday 15th December.

The Toy Collection is an initiative that sees FC United working closely with The Frost Foundation - a charity that helps children and teenagers in the Greater Manchester area who are disadvantaged by illness, circumstance or lack of money. In particular, they support children with disabilities and those living in poverty to help them live their lives to the full.

All types of new toys are welcome; anything from cuddly toys, Lego, dolls, jigsaws, games, educational toys, train sets or remote control cars. Just bring them along to Broadhurst Park on the dates and times listed below.

Monday 11th December - 9am to 12noon
Wednesday 13th December – 9am to 12noon
Friday 15th December – 9am to 12noon

FC United of Manchester
Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road,
Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ

We are looking for 6 volunteers to assist the Toy Collection at the times indicated above. If you could lend a hand then please email Vinny Thompson at vinny.thompson@fc-utd.net or ring the office on 0161 769 2005.

BIG COAT DAY – Saturday 6th January

On Sunday 7th January 2018 when FC United play Southport at home, we will once again be hosting our annual Big Coat Day, where we encourage people to donate coats, warm winter clothing or footwear and blankets (in reasonable condition of course).

Launched in 2005, FC United’s Big Coat Day, is the longest running part of our community programme and down the years we have worked with a number of charities to help acquire warm winter clothing for those most in need in the Manchester area.

So if you have any spare items that you would like to donate to this season’s Big Coat Day please bring them along to Broadhurst Park on the dates and times listed below.

Monday 11th December - 9am to 12noon
Wednesday 13th December – 9am to 12noon
Friday 15th December – 9am to 12noon
Saturday 6th January – 9am to 12 noon
Sunday 7th January – 11am to 2pm

FC United of Manchester
Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road,
Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ

We are looking for 6 volunteers to assist the Toy and Big Coat Day collections at the times indicated above. If you could lend a hand then please email Vinny Thompson at vinny.thompson@fc-utd.net or ring the office on 0161 769 2005.





First Posted ~ 15:29 Wed 29 Nov 2017
News ID ~ 7698
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021