During City’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton Hove Albion on Saturday, the Club celebrated its charity, City in the Community (CITC).
Prior to the day, CITC Premier League Primary Stars participants from Barlow Hall were tasked with drawing Manchester City players for the matchday graphics.
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for CITC participants included mascot spaces, taking part in a team photo on the pitch before kick-off, welcoming players off the bus on the blue carpet and shadowing Manchester City content teams.
Randa, a CITC Premier League Inspires participant, once again met Ruben Dias as she announced him of the bus after meeting at a surprise visit to her session earlier in the week.
Following the game, one participant was even able to interview player of the match, Omar Marmoush.
Check out the interview with Omar HERE.
Elsewhere, the City in the Community Etihad Stadium, renamed for the day, came alive with charity branding ahead of kick-off, including a centre circle display, bespoke LEDs and participant drawn graphics to help raise awareness of CITC’s identity and purpose.
The City squad also showed their support by wearing City in the Community-branded T-shirts and mid-layers during the pre-match warm-up.
To help further raise awareness of the day, City manager, Pep Guardiola, sported a CITC branded top during his pre-match press conference, as well as commenting on CITC saying: “Everybody knows it. As much as a football club, we’re part of the area, the city. They [CITC] help people with problems…
“For many years they’ve been involved in many things, in the toughest moments, like COVID, this club has shown incredible things in the community like no other club has done.”
The day was organised to help raise awareness of the Club’s charity and its work to empower healthier lives through football.
Commenting on the day, CEO of City in the Community, Michael Geary, said: “Days like today play a pivotal role in allowing us to raise awareness, raise understanding and knowledge to fans about what their club is doing in the community.
“It’s been special to see participants from across our programmes enjoying the game and taking part in unique experiences and we want to showcase these opportunities to fans, so they can feel proud of what their club is doing to support people in the community.
“I’d like thank all staff at the Club, as well as its partners, who helped to make the day such a success.”
Charlie, a CITC Degree Student who shadowed the Manchester City photography team on the day said: “I want to say thank you for the experience of a lifetime. I’ll cherish this forever and never ever forget it.
“This has ignited a burning passion for photography and I’m excited to get going and build a portfolio.”
Throughout the day, the attention of supporters was drawn to the CITC Prize Draw.
The newly redeveloped product was highlighted in many areas, including the pre-game Matchday Live show, across the Etihad Stadium and within the dedicated matchday programme.
Running every month, the CITC Prize Draw ensures fans around the world* can get their hands on unforgettable experiences, signed player shirts and more from just £5 a ticket!
Fans can enter on a one-off basis, or they can sign up to a direct debit, meaning they enter the draw monthly automatically. Fans have until the 28th of each month at 12:00 GMT to enter!
Every penny raised goes towards sustaining the charity’s programmes, which empower healthier lives through football.
To take part in the prize draw, or to find out more, visit: www.mancity.com/citcprizedraw
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/CITC or follow @CITCmancity.
*Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, Qatar, Lebanon, and North Korea are the only excluded countries from the prize draw.
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Video Men's Team Features Community CITC City in the Community CITC prize draw Ruben Dias Brighton and Hove Albion Manchester City