Manchester City’s Charity and C.P. company open community football pitch

• A community football pitch located next to the Etihad Stadium has been regenerated by Manchester City’s charity and C.P. Company.
• Joleon Lescott took part in an official blue ribbon opening ceremony alongside local youngsters.
• The opening ceremony marks the charity’s eighth pitch development in Greater Manchester since 2023.

Manchester City’s charity has unveiled a newly regenerated community football pitch, located close to the Etihad Stadium, supported by C.P. Company.

Bradford Park has been transformed through City in the Community’s ‘Healthy Goals’ initiative, which uplifts the physical and mental health of local young people by creating new community football pitches in Manchester, where the charity’s youth-led programmes are delivered.

The regeneration, which marks the charity’s eighth pitch development since 2023, was made possible through funding from C.P. Company, Manchester City’s Official Fashionwear Partner and the first partner of Healthy Goals.

To mark the opening, Manchester City Ambassador and former player Joleon Lescott cut a blue ribbon at a launch attended by local councillors, residents, and young people.

Speaking at the event, Joleon Lescott said:

“It was an honour to be part of the Bradford Park opening and to see first-hand the impact City in the Community is making through its Healthy Goals initiative.

“This pitch isn’t just a place to play — it’s a space where young people can grow in confidence, stay active, and feel proud of their community. It’s fantastic to see partners like CP Company getting behind this kind of work.”

The pitch’s design was inspired by a drawing by one young student from East Manchester, Waiden, whose name features on the final artwork alongside the message “There’s No Us Without You”, a core theme of C.P. Company’s community work.

To further celebrate the opening, C.P. Company invited a group of young community leaders from Milan and Marseille to Manchester, where they had the opportunity to enjoy the Club’s facilities, take part in sports activities, and learn more about the work of City in the Community coaches.

Launched in 2022 in Gorla, Milan, and continued in 2024 in Marseille’s Les Carmes district, the project promotes social inclusion among young people by revitalising underserved urban areas through the unifying power of sport. It aims to create inclusive spaces and shared experiences where youth can connect, play, and develop a strong sense of belonging.

C.P. Company President, Lorenzo Osti, added:

“At C.P. Company, communities have always been at the heart of what we do. For several years, we’ve promoted the project There Is No Us Without You, which uses sport, especially football, to foster inclusion, break down barriers, and serve as a powerful force for social cohesion. That’s why we’re proud to partner with City in the Community on a project that brings people together and drives meaningful, lasting change.”

C.P. Company’s support will enable City in the Community to renovate three community or school pitches in total.

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, Manchester City Council, added:

“Bradford Park’s transformation is a brilliant example of how we’re putting children and young people at the heart of our neighbourhoods. Creating safe, inclusive, and inspiring spaces like this supports our journey to becoming a UNICEF-recognised Child Friendly City — where every child has the opportunity to play, grow, and thrive.

“This regeneration also reflects the City’s commitment to enhancing green spaces that promote wellbeing and community pride. We’re proud to work alongside like-minded partners to make this vision a reality.”