Man City Unveils “football Effect” Mural
More than 100 Manchester schoolchildren joined players from Manchester City’s men’s, women’s and development squad (EDS) for a street party to mark the unveiling of a 64 metre mural at the Academy Stadium.
The design covers the south edge of the Academy Stadium and, according to the club, is inspired by drawings from young City fans from all around the world that reflect the positive change football has brought to their communities: the football effect.
The finishing touches to the mural were provided by captain Vincent Kompany and team mate Gael Clichy, women’s players Lucy Bronze and Emma Lipman and Mathias Bossaerts and Kelechi Iheanacho from the EDS team.
According to the wall’s designers Outhouse, a group of artists based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the centre of the mural is the City Football Academy representing City’s ambition to be an engine and a catalyst for the football effect.
Other scenes show football being played around the world – in places where City has clubs and community projects – with night leagues, disabled football, girls football, roof top football and street football showing how the sport can empower urban youth.
Kompany commented: “It’s been a special street party event today and the wall looks incredible. When Manchester City Women’s and our EDS teams play at the Academy Stadium, our fans will be able to see City’s history and future reflected in this wall. Being at the City Football Academy, in the heart of Manchester means that we have a greater bond with the community and the surrounding areas and today’s event showed this connection in action.”
In March 2015, City Football Group, whose family of clubs also include New York City FC and Melbourne City FC, announced a £400,000 charitable investment as part of Cityzens Giving, a programme that allows City fans to extend the ‘football effect’ to areas of need across the globe.
Reflected in scenes on the wall, the funding will help the projects in Manchester, Melbourne, New York, Barranquilla, Cape Town and Kuala Lumpur to address a range of issues affecting young people, including tackling gang crime, HIV education and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
