A group of Manchester United Foundation participants were pleased to be receive a gift honouring the legacy of club legend Sir Bobby Charlton last month – making a special nod to his belief that a football is the ‘best toy you can have’.

The young people, who were given a football each, take part in Sir Bobby’s Street Reds, a community football session in Moss Side that gives young people aged 8-18 access to free football and alternative activities.

This session is delivered as part of a collaboration between the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation and Manchester United Foundation, reflecting both organisations’ ethos of believing in the potential of young people and giving them opportunities to thrive.

Club legend Nicky Butt was on hand to deliver the special gifts – donated courtesy of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation – as well as spending time getting involved with the session, signing autographs and taking photos with participants, as well as answering their questions about his time as a Red.

Nicky Butt said: “It’s great for Manchester United Foundation and the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation to come together to provide facilities for local communities and young people to enjoy sport and football activities, free of charge.

“We’ve given out footballs today because Sir Bobby famously said they’re the best toy a kid can get. There’s nothing better than getting out in the fresh air and playing some sport and it’s great to see the kids doing that tonight.”

Anthony Savery, community projects coordinator, said: “We were very fortunate to have Nicky as our special guest to come down, meet the kids and distribute the footballs.

“It’s amazing for our young people to have that experience, meeting Nicky and coming away from the session taking their own football home. A lot of the young people may not have their own football and every single one of that came here tonight has got one.”

One participant, Abdul, said: “It was good meeting Nicky, he’s played with a lot of great players and he’s a great player himself. We played with him too, he’s a good dribbler and passer!”

Sir Bobby’s Street Reds forms part of the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks project, through which the Foundation delivers more than 20 free football sessions every week across Greater Manchester, supported by the Premier League Foundation.