The Charity Challenge Cup

Whilst the first team spend the summer recuperating from a successful double winning season, Carrington played host to the Manchester United Foundation’s inaugural Charity Challenge Cup.

On a rainy day on June 21st 2008, teams from across the country converged at Manchester United’s Trafford Training centre to compete in a seven-a-side tournament in aid of the club’s six charity partners.

With Reds legends Paddy Crerand, David May, Brian McClair, Lee Martin, Tony Coton, Arthur Albiston and Clayton Blackmore on hand to manage the teams, everyone involved was guaranteed a day to remember.

The tournament took place on both the indoor and outdoor Academy facilities at the usually closed door Carrington complex.  It took an old style Champions League format with sixteen teams split into groups of four for the first group stage.  The top two finishers from each group then played for the Cup whilst the third and fourth placed teams contested the Plate in the second group stage.

After a closely fought final, the Christies A team were victorious in the Cup over their B team colleagues – coming away winners on penalties by 3 goals to 2.  The AA team for Cystic Fibrosis Trust (with player-manager Clayton Blackmore) took the Plate with a 2-1 win over MUTV.

Steve Mcdonnell played for tje Cystic Fibrosis Trust.  It is the first time had visited Carrington and he was impressed with the facilities, he said:

"We all had a brilliant day and it was a great experience for us to play at the legendary Carrington Training Ground.  With the added bonus of winning the Charity Challenge Plate for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.  I’d like to say a huge thanks to Manchester United for hosting the event and we look forward to returning in the future to defend our title!"

The event was a great success and raised thousands for the Club’s charity partners.