Men’s Community matchday
During City’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton Hove Albion in the 2024/25 season, the Club celebrated its charity, City in the Community (CITC).
Prior to the day, CITC Premier League Primary Stars participants from Barlow Hall were tasked with drawing Manchester City players for the matchday graphics.
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for CITC participants included mascot spaces, taking part in a team photo on the pitch before kick-off, welcoming players off the bus on the blue carpet and shadowing Manchester City content teams.
Charlie, a CITC Degree Student who shadowed the Manchester City photography team on the day said: “I want to say thank you for the experience of a lifetime. I’ll cherish this forever and never ever forget it.
“This has ignited a burning passion for photography and I’m excited to get going and build a portfolio.”
Women’s Community matchday
Manchester City celebrated its charity, City in the Community (CITC) during our 1-1 Barclays Women’s Super League draw with Everton in the 2024/25 season.
In the lead up to the day, CITC Premier League Primary Stars participants from Greenfield Primary School were tasked with drawing Manchester City Women’s players for the matchday graphics.
The opportunities for CITC participants included flag wavers, taking part in the ball-team, welcoming players into the stadium and again shadowing Manchester City content teams.
Following the game, one participant, Libby was even able to interview Kerstin Casparij.
Commenting on the day, CEO of City in the Community, Michael Geary, said: “Days like today play a pivotal role in allowing us to raise interest and awareness for CITC amongst fans and players.
“It’s been special to see participants from across our programmes taking part in unique experiences and I’d like to thank the Club for their huge support on the day. We’ve had some wonderful feedback from parents about how impactful the day has been.
“We look forward to seeing the return of the community matchdays next season!”
Ruben Dias surprise
Manchester City’s Ruben Dias made a surprise appearance at a City in the Community session in March, ahead of our matchday takeover for City’s Premier League clash with Brighton.
City Inspires participants, who were taking part in a session in Newton Heath, were shocked to see the arrival of Dias and Nedum Onuoha, former Manchester City player and CITC Trustee.
The pair appeared at Scotland Hall Road Park, which City in the Community regenerated in 2023, helping to create a safe and inclusive space for local residents to play.
12 City Inspires participants from a Year 8 Chorlton High School class enjoyed a basketball shoot out challenge with Dias and Onuoha, followed by a photo and signing session.
Commenting on his visit Dias said: “I’ve really enjoyed spending time with City in the Community today.
“I think you can tell by the reaction from the kids today, it’s visits like this that enable you to inspire someone without even really realising it, and that’s what it’s all about.
“Before playing professionally I was just enjoying playing at my school and with my friends in the streets. It’s memories like these that are maybe the best memories. It’s just joy, it’s just fun and it’s just pure, and that’s how you want to keep it for youngsters.”
An evening with Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland revealed his favourite nickname, his earliest memories of Manchester City, and what continues to drive him every day at a fundraising event in aid of the Club’s charity.
The Norwegian striker spoke candidly to an intimate audience of 40 fans at a special ‘Evening With’ event, designed in collaboration with Erling himself, in support of City in the Community (CITC).
Guests enjoyed a curated dinner, a private Q&A, and the chance to have their photo taken with the City number nine, with all proceeds directly supporting CITC programmes across Greater Manchester.
The evening also featured a ‘Question of Erling’ quiz, an inspiring talk from a CITC participant turned staff member, and an auction of one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Proceeds will help the charity continue to empower healthier lives through football.
Reflecting on the event, Haaland said: “Manchester’s a special place for me, and I’ve seen for myself what City in the Community means to people here. Things like this show how football can really change lives.”
Healthy Goals, Bradford Park opening
In August we unveiled a newly regenerated community football pitch, located close to the Etihad Stadium, supported by C.P Company.
Bradford Park was transformed through City in the Community’s ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative, which uplifts the physical and mental health of local young people by creating new community football pitches in Manchester, where the charity’s youth-led programmes are delivered.
The regeneration, which marked the charity’s eighth pitch development since 2023, was made possible through funding from C.P. Company, Manchester City’s Official Fashionwear Partner and the first partner of Healthy Goals.
To mark the opening, Manchester City Ambassador and former player Joleon Lescott cut a blue ribbon at a launch attended by local councillors, residents, and young people.
Speaking at the event, Joleon Lescott said:
“It was an honour to be part of the Bradford Park opening and to see first-hand the impact City in the Community is making through its Healthy Goals initiative.
“This pitch isn’t just a place to play — it’s a space where young people can grow in confidence, stay active, and feel proud of their community. It’s fantastic to see partners like CP Company getting behind this kind of work.”
The pitch’s design was inspired by a drawing by one young student from East Manchester, Waiden, whose name features on the final artwork alongside the message “There’s No Us Without You”, a core theme of C.P. Company’s community work.
CITC 2025 Showcase
In June we hosted an exclusive showcase event at the City Football Academy.
The event was organised to demonstrate the important work CITC is doing to empower healthier lives through football, as well as help to create advocates across Greater Manchester for the charity.
Key partners, funders, councillors and business leaders, were invited to the City Football Academy, where they were able to explore stations to find out more about CITC departments, programmes, its participants and staff.
Guests at the event started the day with a presentation from members of City in the Community’s leadership and management staff before being taken on a tour around the Joie Stadium pitch and City Football Academy facilities, to experience several practical and classroom sessions in action.
The showcase also included interactive stands from the charity’s Monitoring Evaluation and Learning, and Communications departments, showcasing the teams behind-the-scenes.
Love This City
The ‘Love This City’ visits were the latest opportunity for the Club to thank fans for their support and to show its year-round commitment to supporting people across the city and beyond.
The encounters saw first team players surprise lifelong City fans that have followed the Club through their own unique and often difficult personal circumstances.
Love this City: City players visit fans in Manchester ahead of Fifa Club World Cup
Ahead of headteacher and City fan Maureen Hughes upcoming retirement from Ravensbury Community School, Nunes, Nico and Echeverri wanted to thank her for all of her hard work across Greater Manchester.
As well as joining pupils in class, the players were also able to see the football pitch at Ravensbury Community School which was upgraded in the 2023/24 season thanks to fundraising from the Club’s Official Charity, City in the Community (CITC), as part of its Healthy Goals Initiative.
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/CITC or follow @CITCmancity.
