The pair jumped out behind City in the Community participants, whilst they were enjoying a free Etihad Stadium Tour, to help celebrate the launch of the Club’s new festive campaign, ‘A Time for Giving’.
Rodri and Carson then invited the group, who all take part in various City in the Community projects across Greater Manchester, to choose one item from the store to keep for free, before answering questions, taking selfies, and signing memorabilia.
The ‘A Time for Giving’ campaign gives fans with an opportunity to come together with the Club to fund thousands of hours of free football for young people in Manchester throughout 2023.
For every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected Christmas retail clothing items, available online and in the City Store, the Club will donate £5 to its charity, City in the Community (registered charity no. 1139229).
Fans can also make additional donations at the tills in the stadium store, when checking out online during their purchase journey for match tickets, and online.
Manchester City will match these donations to increase the overall funds for City in the Community football programmes, up to the value of £75,000, including £5 donated for each sale of selected Christmas retail clothing items*.
A £5 donation which is then matched by Manchester City, until the 31st December, will enable a young person to enjoy four hours of free football and a healthy lunch in the school holidays in 2023.
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One City in the Community participant, said: “I noticed someone was suddenly behind me, but I had no idea it was going to be Manchester City players. I was really shocked!
“Rodri and Carson were very friendly and made us feel really special, especially when they walked us around the shop.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to them both for spending time with us and thank you to City in the Community for everything they do!”
Scott Carson added: “Rodri and I really enjoyed meeting City in the Community’s young participants.
“I’ve visited the charity’s sessions many times before, so know first-hand the difference they make to people in Manchester. It makes me really proud to know that the Club is supporting this important work through its Christmas campaign.”
Head of City in the Community, Michael Geary, said: “Rodri and Carson’s visit really sums up what this year’s Christmas campaign is all about – young people in Manchester!
“At City in the Community we’re passionate about empowering healthier lives through football, placing physical and mental wellbeing at the centre of all our programmes.
“This Christmas campaign will go a long way to ensuring that our free football provision can continue for the young people in our city who need it most.
“Over £47,000 has already been donated by fans, partners, staff and Official Supporters Clubs – which has been matched by the Club – and I’d like to add a sincere thank you to everyone who shown their support. It really does change lives.”
Fans can purchase their Christmas retail clothing items and make matched donations to City in the Community until midnight on the 31 December 2022.
To make a donation online to City in the Community and have it matched by the Club, visit www.mancity.com/CITC.
To purchase items from the new Christmas shop, visit www.shop.mancity.com.
To find out more about the campaign, visit here.
MCFC will donate £5 for each sold Christmas clothing product and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) via Manchester City channels during the period of 01 November 2022 to 31 December 2022 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total.
