From surprise home visits to mascot walkouts and heartfelt gifts, the campaign once again brought our ‘Christmas, Together’ message to life by rewarding fans who simply deserved a lift this festive season.
At the heart of it all was one family from Stockport – and a matchday memory that will hopefully last a lifetime.
A Nomination from the Heart
When we opened Cityzens nominations earlier this winter, one entry came from Krystina Webb, a lifelong Blue from Bredbury.
Krystina’s sons, James, nine, and Joseph, six, have grown up surrounded by Manchester City – watching matches, idolising players, and replaying the “Agueroooo” moment on loop. But their connection to the Club runs even deeper.
Their father, John, passed away from cancer in December 2022. One of his greatest regrets was never being able to take his boys to the Etihad for their first matchday together.
In her nomination, Krystina told us about the boys’ resilience, the joy City brings to their lives and in keeping their Dad’s memory and spirit alive, and how special it would be to create a matchday memory they could share as a family — and in honour of their Dad.
A Knock at the Door
On Friday 15 December, what seemed like a regular morning in the run-up to Christmas became anything but.
James and Joseph were at home when a knock at the door revealed two unexpected guests — first-team stars Matheus Nunes and Tijjani Reijnders, standing on the doorstep with City shirts in hand and smiles to match.
The boys were stunned. The players came in, chatted about their favourite games and players, posed for photos and delivered some festive gifts. But the biggest surprise was still to come.
Mascots at the Etihad
Nunes and Reijnders revealed that James and Joseph would be official mascots for Manchester City’s Premier League clash against West Ham United — complete with tickets for the whole family to attend.
On matchday, the boys walked out hand-in-hand with their heroes — James alongside Erling Haaland, Joseph with Rayan Cherki — in front of a packed Etihad crowd.
With their mum and grandad in the stands, the family were finally able to share the matchday experience their dad had always dreamed of giving them.
The Biggest Year Yet
James and Joseph’s story was just one of more than 3,000 nominations received this year – the highest total since Cityzens Christmas Surprise began.
While not every nominee could be selected, the 2025 edition marked another step forward in the growth of the initiative – and a reminder of the role football pays in strengthening lives, families and communities.
Thank You, Cityzens
From a family in Stockport to the stands at the Etihad – this year’s Cityzens Christmas Surprise was all about what it means to be together.
We’ll be back in 2026 with more surprises, more memories, and more chances for fans to nominate someone special.
Until then, thank you to everyone who nominated, supported, and shared in this season’s journey.
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