FC United to open their ground to homeless on Christmas Day

FOOTBALL club FC United have announced they will be opening up their ground for homeless people on Christmas Day.

The club will offer homeless people in Manchester a cooked breakfast, toiletries, showers and towels free of charge.

A bus service from Manchester to Broadhurst Park stadium will be set up, running at separate times throughout the day to collect homeless people.

Everything the club are using to help provide a more comfortable Christmas for the homeless has been donated from several different companies.

Andy Cheshire, Community and Education Manager of FC United spoke more about the event.

He said: “We’ve run a yearly initiative for the past 11 years called ‘big coat day’ to collect winter clothing for the city’s vulnerable.

“In a conversation I had with one of our associated charity partners they were discussing the fact that last year they opened up their office, and that they have a couple of showers and there’s always a queue for people to have a hot shower, so the idea stemmed from that conversation.

“We have loads of showers here for the homeless to use so why not?”

Andy spoke more about how several companies have been kind enough to donate to the cause: “Everything has been donated, everything’s volunteer led, we’ve had one of our own supporters pay for the bus, and he’s going to drive the bus on Christmas Day.

“North Manchester Sports Forum paid for the towels, we’ve got toiletry stuff from Loreal to give to every single person. Grandad’s Sausages are providing us with the sausages and there’s been loads of food donations that will cover the breakfast, so literally every single thing has been donated.”

Every single homeless person across Manchester City Centre has been made aware of the event on Christmas Day, Andy said: “The rough sleeper’s initiative team have given every single rough sleeper a flyer and all hostels and homeless charities have been made aware.

“The word is already out to be honest with you. Speaking with the woman from Rough Sleepers Initiative she is adamant every single rough sleeper will know about it.”

If you would like to get involved or donate anything to the cause you can contact FC United on office@fc-united.co.uk.