hisroyalblueness said:
ReligionOnly 45% of the residents of Clifford ward (the ward that contains the larger part of Old Trafford) reported themselves as being Christian in the 2001 Census, compared to 76% across Trafford as a whole, and 72% across England.[11] This is reflected in the unusually high number of non Christian places of worship in the area.
Since the 1980s Old Trafford has become home to two large South Asian communities – Gujarati Indians and Pakistani Urdu speakers – almost all being Muslim. Muslims represent the largest non-Christian religious group in the area, with 28% of the population, compared to 3% in the whole of Trafford. To service this community there are four mosques in the area; the Faizan-e-Islam mosque, the *Masjid-e-Hidayah, the Masjid-e-Noor and the Masjid Imdadia.
There is also a smaller Sikh community, with its own Gurdwara, the Sangat Bhatra Sikh Temple, Upper Chorlton Road. Sikhs account for 4% of the area's population, significantly above the less than 1% average for Trafford and England. To further add to the religious mix there is also a Bhuddist temple, the Fo Kang Shang Buddhist Temple, although Bhuddists are recorded as making up only 0.2% of the area's population, roughly the same proportion as for Jews.
Old Trafford is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford, Further information: List of churches in Old Trafford [edit] Education Along with the rest of Trafford, Old Trafford maintains a selective education system assessed by the Eleven Plus examination. There is only one secondary school in Old Trafford; a private, female-only, Muslim secondary school [ but there are three primary schools within the area.
I repeat - the swamp is in the catholic diocese of Salford . . no arguments please - just look it up. It's a wonderfully ethnic area with only 45% christian (all of the various christian religions added together) and the largest actual single religion is Muslim It's also split across 2 trafford voting districts (Urmston & Stretford I think).
...Wot the fuck has all that got to do with us signin Dzeko, you sure you haven't advanced pass
GO by throwing more dice's than rest of us !
Anyways....here's a quick recap to get ya back on page fella
Manchester City's top January transfer target Edin Dzeko has taken the remarkable step of writing to the club to say that he wants to join them.
As City consider how much they can afford to offer German club Wolfsburg for the striker in January, Sportsmail can reveal just how desperate Dzeko is to come.
It is understood that the 24-year-old Bosnia star wrote to City in August and outlined his interest in a move to Eastlands.
News of his extraordinary move will not please Wolfsburg manager Steve McClaren, but it will hearten City fans currently angry at the transfer request handed in by Carlos Tevez.
City eventually pulled out of the running for Dzeko's signature in the summer when Wolfsburg pushed the asking price above £30million and forward Craig Bellamy refused to become part of the deal by moving to the Bundesliga club.
However, City boss Roberto Mancini told his board several weeks ago that he was keen to try again for Dzeko in January as it became clear to him that Emmanuel Adebayor, Jo and Roque Santa Cruz were not proving good enough.
The recent developments regarding Tevez have only hardened Mancini's belief that he needs another forward and it is known that City have now made the acquisition of Dzeko their top priority regardless of whether Tevez leaves next month.
In public Dzeko has been coy about his future while Italian clubs such as City's Europa League rivals Juventus have briefed Italian journalists that he wants to move to Serie A.
However, one of his representatives was a guest of City at last month's Manchester derby which, allied with this latest development, suggests City are in pole position
One thing that will certainly influence Dzeko's thinking is the fact that Wolfsburg are currently having a difficult season and are fifth from bottom of the Bundesliga.
Dzeko has scored eight league goals in 16 games but recently had a public spat with McClaren, ignoring his manager's outstretched hand after being substituted against Werder Bremen earlier this month.
He has signed a four and a half year deal and will wear the number 10 shirt.
The prolific 24-year-old striker can’t wait for the new marriage to start after a lengthy engagement.
He is likely to make his home debut against Wolves at CoMs on Saturday week (tickets still available).
“It has been a long time that I have been linked with the club going back to last summer but Wolfsburg did not want to sell me until today,” he smiled after completing a medical.
“There was too much speculation in the papers but my head is always clear. It is important that is the case because if you think too much about what might be it is a distraction and it can affect your game. I was always attracted most to joining City.
"I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition as Manchester City. They were my first choice and only choice."
“They have been playing well this season. I have watched them a lot on television. Now the speculation is over and I just want to do my best.”
Bosnian star Dzeko, who has most recently been on a winter break with former club Wolfsburg, has no doubt why he joined the Blues.
“Everybody speaks about City having lots of money but it is not about that. It is about ambition and I have spoken to coach Mancini and he told me ‘this is the best club for you’,” he explained in his excellent English.
“City are playing for first place in the Premier League and that is what I want. I am excited to play alongside players such as Tevez and Toure who I have only seen on the television and to be in the same team as players I have played against such as Boateng and Kompany.
“They will help me achieve my goal to be better in the future. I want to show the fans why the club paid the money for me. Everyone expects goals and I want to score them but most of all I want to contribute to a successful team.
“I don’t want to talk about my skill - that is for other people to judge. However, I know my quality and when I am fit I am not afraid of a challenge.
“I don’t know a lot about Manchester because I have only been once but I am looking forward to seeing the city and meeting the fans and getting to know everyone at the club.”
The hitman clearly offers Mancini a different option as a target man par excellence, cannot wait to get started:
He has scored 10 goals in 17 League games this season for the Bundesliga champions and was a target for some of Europe's top clubs before opting to move to the City of Manchester Stadium.
His signing, Mancini's ninth since the former Inter boss took charge of the team just over a year ago, will be seen as a statement of intent with title-chasing City lying second in the table.
Sarajevo-born Dzeko began his career at his local side FK Zeljeznicar and turned few heads as a midfielder. But when he moved to Czech club Teplice, he finished as top scorer for 2006-07 with 13 goals from 30 appearances.
Dzeko moved to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2007 for €4million, and made an immediate impact with five goals in 11 games, eventually helping the club to fifth place and a UEFA Cup spot.
His second season was exceptional. Dzeko formed a potent partnership with Brazilian Grafite, scoring 26 out of the duo's record-breaking 54 goals as Wolfsburg won their first league title.
A further 10 goals in domestic and European cup competitions clinched the 2008-09 German Footballer of the Year award. Dzeko was also nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or, won by Lionel Messi.
The striker, who was made a UNICEF ambassador in November 2009, became the highest League scorer in Wolfsburg's history with 66 goals in 111 Bundesliga matches. He scored 84 times for the club in all competitions.
New teammate Jerome Boateng is clearly a fan.
“Dzeko has everything,” he praised. “He can shoot right left and can head the ball too. He is a very strong striker. He is a quality player. Against Hamburg he always played well and seemed to score, it was always a big challenge.
“He can hold the ball well and he knows how to move with his body. He has a good eye for the goal."
<a class="postlink" href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player...id=745774733001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 5774733001</a>
