Gary James
Well-Known Member
While the furore continues, I thought I'd give everyone a bit of positive news on something the Club is doing.
A few months back I was approached by a couple of members of Academy staff who wanted to give the current crop of 16/17 year olds some background into the Club's history.
Obviously, all football clubs should do this as a matter of course but the fact is that they don't.
I met up with the guys, we talked through ideas and then we created a series of sessions to last throughout the season. The plan was that these would focus on all key aspects of our history, supporters, club colours, and so on.
Yesterday we staged the first one. We talked with the players about the birth of the Club; took them to the site of St. Mark's Church in West Gorton; went to Gorton Park (where the Club played in 1882-1884 when it was more commonly known as Donkey Common or Queens Road); visited the site of the old Hyde Rd ground; then went to the stadium where they went in the dressing room, up the tunnel and also looked at the exhibition on the plans for the new training facilities.
I believe what we did yesterday was pretty innovative for a football club. Others do bits on their history, but most tend to pay lip service to it. I'm not aware of any club that takes their potential future stars walking around the areas of their birth.
Yesterday also demonstrated to me that people often assume high-profile Premier League football clubs and their players think only about the modern day but City are clearly trying to ensure that their future stars understand the significance of the Club to its community, and the importance of each period of its history.
This is the sort of thing every football club should do. It gives players an understanding and empathy with the fans and, of course, the city of Manchester.
With many focusing on all the negatives surrounding the Club, its players, directors, and its perceived wealth, there are some very real positive activities going on.
Paul Lake joined us on the session yesterday and it was very clear that the Club had never done anything like this when he was a player (and I guess they've never done it at all during any previous regime). Incidentally, Paul is also a great ambassador for the Club.
Hopefully, the story will make its way on to the website soon. Part of the day was filmed and should appear on the site later this week/early next week.
A few months back I was approached by a couple of members of Academy staff who wanted to give the current crop of 16/17 year olds some background into the Club's history.
Obviously, all football clubs should do this as a matter of course but the fact is that they don't.
I met up with the guys, we talked through ideas and then we created a series of sessions to last throughout the season. The plan was that these would focus on all key aspects of our history, supporters, club colours, and so on.
Yesterday we staged the first one. We talked with the players about the birth of the Club; took them to the site of St. Mark's Church in West Gorton; went to Gorton Park (where the Club played in 1882-1884 when it was more commonly known as Donkey Common or Queens Road); visited the site of the old Hyde Rd ground; then went to the stadium where they went in the dressing room, up the tunnel and also looked at the exhibition on the plans for the new training facilities.
I believe what we did yesterday was pretty innovative for a football club. Others do bits on their history, but most tend to pay lip service to it. I'm not aware of any club that takes their potential future stars walking around the areas of their birth.
Yesterday also demonstrated to me that people often assume high-profile Premier League football clubs and their players think only about the modern day but City are clearly trying to ensure that their future stars understand the significance of the Club to its community, and the importance of each period of its history.
This is the sort of thing every football club should do. It gives players an understanding and empathy with the fans and, of course, the city of Manchester.
With many focusing on all the negatives surrounding the Club, its players, directors, and its perceived wealth, there are some very real positive activities going on.
Paul Lake joined us on the session yesterday and it was very clear that the Club had never done anything like this when he was a player (and I guess they've never done it at all during any previous regime). Incidentally, Paul is also a great ambassador for the Club.
Hopefully, the story will make its way on to the website soon. Part of the day was filmed and should appear on the site later this week/early next week.