Following a series of training sessions led by Manchester United Foundation coaches at their colleges, students were ready to step out at the famous ground, following in the footsteps of players like David Beckham, Paul Scholes and the famed Class of ’92, and other footballing legends in Manchester United’s history.

Former Red Danny Webber was on hand to support the event, pleased to return to his boyhood training ground, where he spent many years honing his skills under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Danny said: “It’s so nostalgic to be here - Sir Alex used to watch us from these windows - and so much success was born out of this place. Not a lot of people get to come and train here these days, so it’s an incredible opportunity for the students to play here.

“I’ve just had a kickabout and taken some penalties, and I can feel the energy and excitement – it’s just nice to see them playing football and being in the moment.”

Hosted in partnership with Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) - a not-for-profit charity that gives back to the education sector - the 'CPC Inclusion Cup' aims to support SEND students in accessing football and extra-curricular opportunities, enabling them to play on a level playing field and interact with peers from various locations across Greater Manchester.

Teams from Bolton College, Bury College, Eccles Sixth Form College, Hopwood Hall College, Oldham College and Trafford College all participated in the tournament with Hopwood Hall in Rochdale emerging victorious, receiving a trophy and tickets for their whole squad to attend the Manchester United v Aston Villa game – the last Old Trafford home game of the season.

Mason, a player on the winning team, said: “We all built our confidence through the day – we came back from a loss but just had the positivity to keep fighting and it paid off! It feels amazing to win the trophy and get to take it home with us – it’s just been a great experience.

“To be at The Cliff and to see all the history with my own eyes has been amazing – it’s something not many people get to do, so I really respect it.”

The day didn’t end there, though, as all teams were then invited to Old Trafford for an interactive team-building workshop in the Manchester United Foundation Skills Lab, before heading out to see the famous pitch.

Darren Lowe, managing director of CPC, said: “If I could summarise today in one word it would be ‘enthusiasm’ – the energy has been superb, and the tournament has been a pleasure to watch.

“We’re proud at CPC for this to be one of the many projects we’ve funded in the education sector, to give back to communities, and hopefully this will become an annual event and even more inclusive.”

Matt Pilkington, disability and inclusion coordinator for Manchester United Foundation, said: “Our work with CPC has become so valuable; the experiences these young people will have gained from the training sessions at college, to being at The Cliff and Old Trafford today, is something they may normally not be able to access, and their attitude and the vibe today has been unbelievable.”

This CPC Inclusion Cup initiative is a testament to CPC's commitment to ‘Giving Back’ to the education sector, supported by Manchester United Foundation. We look forward to building new collaborative partnerships and continuing our charitable efforts together over the coming years.