Carrick donates boots to young footballers

Working in partnership with the Michael Carrick Foundation, both charities distributed 114 pairs of new football boots to children aged 8-18 who regularly attend the free football sessions. The boot drop initiative has been a part of the long-standing partnership with Manchester United Foundation for the past four years.

The Street Reds site at Old Trafford holds a special place for Michael having been relaunched as ‘Carrick’s Street Reds’ in 2018 and is funded by Michael’s foundation through the money raised from his testimonial in June 2017.

Delighted to attend, the Manchester United legend expressed the importance and reason behind the donation.

“It's been a tough 18 months for everybody, but children have suffered more than most,” he said. “It’s good to have everyone back together again in the lead up to Christmas.

“This time of year should be a time for celebration, when children should be smiling and enjoying themselves, so hopefully tonight will go a little way to putting smiles back on faces again.”

Thanking the children for all their hard work and efforts, and for attending Street Reds come rain or shine, Michael handed out boots and woolly hats to excited participants.

Sanjana, 14, was thrilled to receive the boots at the session, telling us: “We met Michael Carrick and it’s just unbelievable that we’re actually here today receiving boots from him.

“For me, being the only female here, it’s just an amazing experience. Thank you so much to Michael for the boots, the hat and for the session as a whole.”

Carrick’s Street Reds is part of Manchester United Foundation’s wider Street Reds programme operating at 13 sites across Greater Manchester. Street Reds offers free football sessions and alternative activities for young people aged 8-18, with the opportunity to learn new skills, play, lead and coach in a supportive and positive environment.