Charlton nets a winner at Wythenshawe Hub

After officially opening the new state of the art Manchester Enterprise Academy in October Sir Bobby couldn’t wait to catch up with the Foundation’s Hub activity based at this local secondary school. Our groundbreaking Hub scheme involves the long-term placement of a Football Development Officer at the MEA. Coach, Dave Chapman also works with the surrounding feeder primary schools with the aim of uniting children, parents and teaching staff throughout the community.

Wythenshawe is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, through our Hub work we hope to engage and inspire young people with sporting, educational, and community projects.

“If you can get young people to be active and to use their brains then they’re as good as anyone else, if not better,” stated Sir Bobby at the Opening Ceremony. He then raced straight to the football pitches to see Dave taking a football session with some primary school children.

“We didn’t tell the children Sir Bobby was coming, so they were over the moon,” explains Dave. “They were made up that he’d took time out to see them and their faces lit up when he picked up a ball and did some coaching.”

Sir Bobby gave an impromptu lesson in taking a penalty kick. He began by rolling back the years and giving a demonstration, then he lined the children up to see if they could follow his example. Goal-keeper Josh Tyres from Cross Acres Primary had a busy afternoon, but according to Dave, he can’t stop talking about it. “Josh went home and told his dad that Bobby Charlton had scored a penalty against him, he’s still going on about it now!”

Sir Bobby found his visit equally as memorable, “I was amazed by the children I met. There was such intelligence and imagination amongst them and a facility like the Manchester Enterprise Academy will help to bring them on - with Manchester United’s help, of course.”