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Day: 20 October 2015

The Manchester Derby: Preview

Written by Will Kelly, Harry Newton, Davide Cappelli, and Toby Webb, with Alexander Craig and Ben Blakey.

With the Manchester derby coming up this weekend, the SPORT team have joined forces to preview the game! The derbies the last few years have been becoming more and more even—this one is lining up to be one of the most even some time, as both teams find themselves title challengers again.

 

City’s Tactics: Toby Webb

Going into Sunday’s clash, City will look to mimic Arsenal’s performance against United a few weeks ago; namely, to deliver the knockout blow before the end of the first round. United were completely overwhelmed by Arsenal’s direct and pacey approach, conceding three game-deciding goals in the first 20 minutes. The directness was too much for United’s haggard midfield of Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger; huge gaps in midfield and in front of the defence were easily exploited.

City has the pace to emulate Arsenal’s achievement, with Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. De Bruyne has truly hit the ground running since his move to England late in the transfer window, creating and scoring goals in recent matches. Sterling has shown glimpses of class; a big performance at Old Trafford will immediately place him in the fans’ hearts.

I have maintained for some time that City look their most threatening when the counter-attacking style, employing a fast tempo and directness. Several of the goals scored in the 6-1 demolition of Newcastle were on the counter-attack, thus showing that City have the components to play in this way.

A counter-attacking style will be easier to adopt as they are playing away from home. United will be expected to dominate the game, with the majority of players looking to join the attacks. This will leave open space for City to utilise as long as they can move the ball forward quick enough.

As mentioned, the midfield, specifically the gap between the defence and deep-sitting midfielder, will be a crucial area that City can exploit. David Silva, provided he’s fit, will aim to occupy this insecure space, looking to thread balls through to the striker or stretch the play by bringing in the wide players. Silva sometimes has a tendency to slow the play down by passing laterally or even backwards, however, he must endeavour to go forward as much as possible if City are to have the same success as Arsenal did.

A further aspect that plays into City’s advantage is the often unpredictable United team selection. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have both played out of position in recent weeks. While Marcus Rojo’s return to fitness should resolve some of the issues, United will most likely continue to play Daley Blind, who is traditionally a midfielder, in defence. He is a solid player but the likes of De Bruyne and Silva could easily expose him. Ultimately, Louis Van Gaal is yet to decide on his favoured starting team; this uncertainty is something City should look to exploit if possible.

With Vincent Kompany likely to be fit, City should have a solid and organised defence on which to build a strong performance. City manager Manuel Pelligrini often errs on the side of caution in the big games, selecting two midfielders to sit in front of the defence, these likely to be Fernandinho and Yaya Toure (Fernando if the latter is not fit). This formation has sometimes left City looking uninspiring going forward. However, the inventiveness of De Bruyne and the pace of Sterling should counteract this.

With both teams in Champions League action this week (United away to CSKA Moscow and City at home to Sevilla), both managers will have to use their squads effectively to ensure the right players are fresh for Sunday’s clash. From a City perspective, if the team can play with the same tempo and directness shown against Newcastle (something United have struggled against previously), they will likely be the victors on Sunday.

Toby Webb’s prediction: 2-0 City

 

City’s Tactics: Harry Newton

Manchester City find themselves in a difficult situation when asking who their star man is for this game, with their obvious best player this season David Silva, and goal machine Sergio Agüero, both likely to miss out. When City fans sat and watched Agüero tear apart Newcastle their minds turned to this very match! Five against Newcastle in twenty minutes? Surely Agüero could manage two or three against Louis Van Gaal’s men in 90! Alas, the man of glass suffered an injury. So who is City’s main man now?

Kevin de Bruyne, since his megabucks move from Wolfsburg this summer, has injected City with a whole new feel. The energetic midfielder brought the Blues straight back after a stuttering start. David Silva is almost the complete footballer, but what he misses, de Bruyne has. Watching the two play together for the start of the Belgian’s City career has been scintillating, and there is no reason he cannot do this without Silva or Aguero by his side. This man has unlocked some of the best defences in the world—whether it be acting as the Bundesliga Player of the Year in Germany last year, or for Belgium—so he should have no trouble against a faulting Manchester United defence, surely…

One of City’s men who slips under the radar of many, but consistently performs, is Fernandinho. He will be just as important to this game as de Bruyne, and if he continues on his good form he will do well for the Blues.

Harry Newton’s prediction: 1-0 to City. Either de Bruyne, or a Joe Hart overhead kick.

 

United’s Tactics: Will Kelly

In terms of historical significance in the world, the University of Manchester has proven to be influential in the school of physics with the likes of Alan Turing with his computer science, and Ernst Rutherford splitting the atom. Over at Old Trafford, a new “philosophy” is emerging from Van Gaal having made a strange new discovery of his own: ‘False Mata’.

The base of this theory is that Juan Mata is no longer the playmaker United fans had thought they had signed but is the “false right winger,” as Van Gaal has dubbed him last season. Instead of looking to assist in a congestive midfield where he only stands at 5’7″, it is the Spaniard’s job of getting the ball into the back of the net.

Matteo Darmian as the overlapping fullback provides width, which enables Mata to drift inside, often without the ball, looking for space between defenders on the edge of the box. Manuel Pelligrini opted for a 4-4-2 formation in the Manchester derby last year and it certainly proved costly. Yaya Toure, for whatever reason, did not track back and United’s midfield utilised Mata in the gaps behind City’s midfield. This was, essentially, playing triangles around City’s midfield and United were able to win 4-2.

Mata is currently United’s player of the month, having completed an average pass accuracy of 90 per cent, notching up three goals and four assists, and his performances will be key if United are to make a sustained challenge for the Premier League title this season.

However, against Arsenal, United were themselves suspect of allowing too much space which Arsenal attacked ruthlessly. It did not make tactical sense to play Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger because they did not have the legs to track back against Arsenal’s deep runners. I would expect Schneiderlin to start the game and to really get stuck into Yaya Toure and break their midfield down.

United have been playing a possession-dominated game this season but they need to play with intensity, and to have no fear in taking on City’s fullbacks to force Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne to track back into their own half. Questions will be raised if Memphis Depay will start, as he has been so inconsistent thus far, and I would expect that Ashley Young will start ahead of him, as he loves to drive at the full back.

This will be a big game for the 19-year-old Anthony Martial, who has been nothing short of a revelation since his arrival. Scoring three goals in four games, Martial has rightfully been named as Premier League Player of the Month for September. Something that has been quite surprising is his strength, as he is able to hold the ball up and turn on his centre back to really drive into the box.

Vincent Kompany will be a stern test of strength but if he can continue to make runs behind the centre backs or carry the ball in close control within these areas, this will allow the likes of Mata and Young (if selected) to penetrate the inside of the area. The key to success is to keep possession of the ball, but also to be clinical in attack and like United’s recent performance against Wolfsburg, United could run City into the ground.

Will Kelly’s prediction: 2-1 for United. United to get a two goal lead, and a nervy ending.

 

City Derby Memories: Harry Newton

There’s been some fantastic derby moments for City down the years, but there is one that sticks out more than any other: The 6-1. In City’s first title-winning season, they needed the belief that they could really see off the world’s best teams and go on and snatch the Premier League trophy for their first time in decades.

This game had it all. Balotelli started off the goal scoring and began a humiliating day for the reds as he silenced the Old Trafford crowd and stole away all their attention to look at his message under his shirt. “Why always me?” If that was the only goal in a 1-0 win then maybe you would have had the back pages Mario, but the blues continued full steam ahead.

Aguero bagged two, Silva with another, and Edin Dzeko finished off the romp with two for himself! Dzeko’s last goal will be seen for years to come on numerous highlights reels, whether it be for the demise of Manchester United that season, the rise of Manchester City, the fantastic assist from David Silva or his pure audacity to check the scoreboard before holding up six fingers to whoever were left in the Old Trafford stands to see him.

Prior to the game some comments from Sir Alex Ferguson about City’s inferiority to the red side of Manchester added insult to injury for United fans, and the blue half of Manchester still sing about this day since. The fact that City have since beaten United to the league title by mere seconds, and had them battered once more by a big 4-1 score line—and yet they still sing about this day, tells you all you need to know about how important this game was for the team and fans alike.

This was not just a battering of a local rival in front of their own fans—this was a statement of intent to the world. Manchester City have grown. They were no longer little City, or megabucks City struggling in the Europa League—these were the quick, the goal-scoring title contenders Manchester City. It’s just a shame that this was only the second best game City played that season…

 

United Derby Memories: Will Kelly

My favourite derby memory was Manchester United’s 4-3 victory, when Michael Owen scored in the 96th minute to win the game. It was an absolutely incredible game and bar Bellamy’s wonder strike, United had practically handed City the three goals after some serious errors by United’s defence. I remember some people started to leave after City had scored the equalizer in the 90th minute but for some reason, I knew that the game wasn’t over yet.

I was pumped with adrenaline and I lost my voice trying to rally fans around me that we could keep going. After the pass from Ryan Giggs (with the outside of his foot), there was deafening silence as Michael Owen took the touch in the box and prodded home the winner. The stadium exploded and I for one as a 16-year-old was whisked around, and lifted up six rows up the stand. I had to find my brother after the match, that was how far I was lifted up!

Another favourite memory was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season when Robin Van Persie scored the winner from a free kick, again in added time. I was in the away end and we just erupted in a sea of red. My glasses flung off during the wild celebrations and it wasn’t ideal that I had to submit an essay for the next day, having spent the whole day drinking. It was a long night!

 

United Fan Comment: Alexander Craig

United are going to win this derby for the same reason City will never mount successive title campaigns, because City is a pseudo-football club with a hollow culture. These games are won and lost on the commitment of the players, something which Manchester’s resident Dutch lunatic has instilled in his team in abundance.

That, and this season’s City mercenaries will be as startled as they were last season when they look around our vast colosseum of football and see no empty seats.

The return of Vincent Kompany is music to United’s ears. His lust for hot-headed defending, leaving space in behind and giving away needless fouls, is something which the Ice-Man Martial is bound to feed off. I’d even go as far as saying Rooney could score. Chins will rest comfortably in chests once Martial ripples the net for the first time and with Aguero and Silva injured, I can’t see Smalling having too much to worry about.

Alexander Craig’s prediction: 2-0 to United (Martial brace)

 

City Fan Comment: Ben Blakey

The biggest club in the Manchester area have recruited well over the summer, adding a world-class player in Kevin De Bruyne and the flair and promise of the young Raheem Sterling. If you watched the opening month of the season, you’d be a fool not to back the mighty blues to win their third PL title in four years.

With Agüero and Silva fit there’s no doubt it’d be a cricket score, with the Spanish magician orchestrating goals, goals and more goals. On his day, Agüero is the best player in the world. However, with both these players doubtful, the likes of Sterling, KDB and Bony will have to step up. This shouldn’t be a problem against the pub players United have at the moment, most notably Chris Smalling and the donkey Michael Carrick. Kolarov will be vital in securing the 3 points, his marauding runs and magical left foot can be devastating.

City have injuries, and, although it’s well known that we are a beautiful team, sometimes you just never know what you’re going to get. The balance of power in Manchester has definitely switched since Fergie’s departure: United are now ‘the noisy neighbours’.

Ben Blakey’s prediction: Comfortable 3-1 to City.

Black History Month: An evening with Viv Anderson

As part of Black History Month, the People’s History Museum, located in Spinningfields, Manchester hosted a talk with Viv Anderson—the first black footballer to represent England, against Czechoslovakia, at Wembley Stadium in 1978. Anderson would eventually earn England 30 caps over a ten year period.

Anderson was born in Nottingham in 1956 and as a young boy, he had trials with Sheffield United and Manchester United—whose academy he subsequently joined. Anderson and his father would travel back and forth between Nottingham and Manchester, and had the amazing opportunity to train with professional footballers like George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton. But it was not to be at United, as they decided to let him go at the age of 12.

His big footballing break came when, while working as an apprentice, Nottingham Forest asked him to play youth matches, leading him to become a member of their academy. It was at this club that Anderson’s distinguished club career would begin. He played for Nottingham Forest between 1974 and 1984, during which at the time—under the manager-assistant duo of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, he gained promotion to the old First Division, and won the First Division title and two European Cups.

After leaving Forest, Anderson went on to play for two of the most successful clubs in English football, Arsenal and Manchester United. From there he moved to Sheffield Wednesday, regularly playing for a team that reached the League and FA Cup finals of 1993 and finished seventh in the first Premier League season, before becoming player-manager at Barnsley and then assistant manager to Bryan Robson at Middlesbrough—where injuries forced him to make his final two appearances as a footballer.

Anderson was a chatty, jovial guest throughout the talk, never shying away from a question asked and was always willing to provide insights and anecdotes from his playing career. Naturally, many of these stories involved the mercurial Brian Clough. Anderson also had the distinction of being Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signing at Manchester United. When asked to compare the two managers, Anderson felt that they were very similar; they commanded the respect of the players—even once players had left the club, they commonly refused to divulge either manager’s methods to the press; and they had an innate ability to infuse players with a sense of self-belief that translated to improved performances.

In spite of all the accolades garnered in his club career, Anderson called his first appearance for England his favourite game of all time because he was so proud to be given the opportunity to represent his country—a fact complemented by his possibly optimistic, but hopefully prescient, prediction that England would reach at least the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Anderson cheekily claimed that he got an assist on the night: A pass to Steve Coppell who ran 60 yards with the ball, and crossed it for the striker to head into the net!

One subject that was not at the forefront of his mind in the build up to the game against Czechoslovakia, was the historical milestone that he was about to achieve. To him, he was just a strong lad from Nottingham, whose job was to kick people for a living. He recounts the instructions given to him by Clough at Forest: “Keep the ball out of my net and give the ball to those who could play”—which he applied to all of the games he played in.

Anderson came up against racism many times during his career, with Newcastle away being a particularly bad ground to go to. Recounting one away match at Carlisle, when he was on the substitute’s bench, Clough told Anderson to go and warm up. Two minutes later, Anderson would return and explained to Clough that the crowd were throwing apples, bananas and pears at him. Clough told him to go out there, and bring him back a pear and a banana!

Clough later brought him aside in the changing room and told him that Anderson would never get far in football if he let people dictate his life and get to him emotionally. Clough told him to let the football do the talking and Anderson used this as a mantra for the rest of his career.

One focal point of the evening was Anderson’s thoughts on the lack of black managers within the English game. Anderson remembers going into management at Barnsley and being only the second black manager in England, to which the media stated that this would be the start of things to come. Today it saddens Anderson that despite being 15 years on, the situation hasn’t changed.

Anderson puts this down to the perception that notable black candidates are seen to be good players, but people doubt their ability to go into management. He called for the FA to make a stance. Whether this came in the form of the ‘Rooney Rule’, like they have in America, Anderson declared that something had to be done to help people from minority backgrounds to enter football management.

Anderson recognised that into today’s games, it is increasingly difficult for managers to get a chance to prove themselves as the game has become essentially, a results-orientated business.

Martin O’Neil, Anderson’s former teammate, lost his first 13 games as manager of Leicester City, yet the club stood by him and he went on achieving great things. Another former teammate, Terry Butcher, has just lost his job after eight games in charge of Newport County.

Gordon Taylor, the Professional Football Association’s chairman was present and he echoed Anderson’s claims for a fairer recruitment policy. Taylor encouraged people to start at a good club lower down the leagues and cited Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink—currently working wonders with Burton Albion. Taylor, also, was greatly concerned about the lack of people from Asian backgrounds working in football today and encouraged a recruitment policy that would help them become integrated as players, referees and even coaching staff. For him, studies needed to be done in areas with higher Asian populations such as Blackburn and Bradford to understand why these people are not coming through in football.

Football has come a long way since the days when the likes of Viv Anderson were subject to torrid racist abuse from the sidelines. Today, the England team has plenty of black stars within the squad. But clearly, football still has a long way to go. Perhaps the FA should stand up and take note of Anderson and Taylor’s sentiments and ultimately, take action.

FIFA chaos as the world cries out for change

The Third Reich, the Roman Empire and Kerry Katona’s showbiz career are all things that saw a pitiful demise from positions of such unimaginable strength, and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) are in danger of finding themselves in a very similar situation.

Football’s governing body, FIFA, are facing a power struggle due to the stream of accusations of corruption against its highest members—with UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter both being given a 90-day suspension last week over a payment of £1.35 million to Platini himself unaccounted for. On a basic level, football is a game loved by millions, but without a governing body for the international running of this sport, it will falter—and with the current disarray that FIFA are in, football is already suffering.

For a very long time now, football is no longer just a game. It is no longer the case that each match is the most important thing to do with football; politics has become increasingly more important in football as the years have gone on. This is of course a good thing, as these politicians organise international football and help it to grow further—but with politics comes corruption and with this, football is dragged down and the game could be ruined. FIFA need to stop and start again, but with men like Platini and Blatter heading the organisation, this will never work.

Prior to voting, the FIFA inspection team came to the conclusion that Qatar was the only “high risk” option overall from all candidates to host the 2022 World Cup. And yet, Platini and many others still voted for Qatar, who gained 14 of the 22 votes of the executive committee in December 2010.

The world fell to outrage and pursuits to get the corruption out of the game increased. It was always presumed that there were obviously different reasons than football that lead to this decision, and Blatter, of all people, was the man to confirm these reports. In the voting for this the French and German governments intervened in the choosing of the 2022 World Cup—to try and push for a Qatar win; a place with three stadiums in place, and now thousands less workers due to deaths on the job. This was due to French and German business projects in the richest country in the world that could be made even more profitable from a Qatar World Cup.

This is evidence for not only the corruption in football, but also the magnitude of it as the French and German governments show their muscle too—but with the right people in charge of FIFA running it the right way, then this may have been averted.

Platini and Blatter find themselves emulating Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams—everyone knows it’s time to call it a day, except themselves. You have had your time in the spotlight, but that fire will not relight anymore and it’s time to let go.

Despite in June Blatter saying he would stand down following American and Swiss investigations into possible money laundering, he still found himself sat in his chair soon after. When the allegations against Blatter had began, squeaky-clean Platini had put on his cape to save the day and put himself forward for election. He put himself forward as the man ready to make football about football again, but now finds himself under investigation and suspended from having any interaction with football whatsoever.

This is due to £1.35 million being given to Platini, and no written record of this being kept. This is money that Platini should have apparently been given in a period of FIFA’s history when they did not have enough money to pay him, so it has been given to him more recently. This is the same period in FIFA’s history where they enjoyed surplus revenue of £80 million.

The whole episode certainly doesn’t seem to make sense, but Platini protests his innocence, and says it was a verbal contract between the two men. This is definitely not shining Platini or Blatter in any positive light. With the Dutch, German and Danish associations all saying they are assessing their loyalty towards Platini in the presidential election, and the English FA saying they are “following the ongoing investigation,” a man who looked like he may have saved football is under some extreme pressure here.

Many of the officials in world football find themselves in this spider web of deceit—even the current acting president, Issa Hayatou, was reprimanded in 2011 over bribery allegations. Another example of a football chief entangled in this problem is Thai FA head Worawi Makudi, currently suspended for 90 days, who was found guilty in a Thai court for forgery in his re-election as head of the Thai FA.

Even Gregg Dyke, the man seen as looking quite clean in all these proceedings, is under some pressure at the moment by giving Platini his full backing despite these issues, and no manifesto being in place or any other candidate for that matter. That’s like voting for an X Factor winner before they’ve even sang.

Blatter may finally leave, after finding himself trapped in the revolving door of the FIFA HQ for the last year, but the problems in football are deeper than one man. Football needs a fresh start, but unless Alan Sugar hosts a special edition of The Apprentice, I can’t see anybody different coming to the forefront any time soon.

There are options of course. Blatter and Platini can go, and we can find ourselves with a different person at the top, and he may run the organisation better. With Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan officially submitting his candidature for the presidency this is a real opportunity for FIFA to progress, but the problem with this is that the world may find itself slaughtering a tiger to set loose a lion, as simply installing a new person at the top will not get rid of all the problems.

Another option is being expressed from the cries from the back of the room—for the Swiss government to put FIFA in state control and just simply start again. If there’s still 22 players, one ball and a referee, then who really has a problem with starting again? This is extremely unlikely, but football is definitely at a stage now where change is necessary, and the politicians need to be reminded of the game they represent.

MTN-Qhubeka: The first African Tour de France Team

In 2015, MTN-Qhubeka made their first appearance at the Tour de France. In doing so, they became the first African team to compete at the tour, a major milestone in the sport’s history. Now they have firmly established themselves as the fans’ favorites with their attacking style and plucky underdog status.

The team has been bucking trends ever since its inception, and part of the team’s project is to promote the organisation Qhubeka. The word Qhubeka is an Nguni word for “to progress”, and the charity is the World Bicycle Relief’s South African programme. The group has distributed over 220,000 specially designed bikes to communities across Africa. The charity says that “having a bicycle changes lives by increasing the distance people can travel, what they can carry, where they can go and how fast they can get there.”

Devoting half of a team’s lucrative advertising space to a non-profit group has raised eyebrows amongst the European peloton, but their slogan #bicycleschangelives has helped gain support for their cause as well as their team on the roadside.

Like British and American outfits before them, they have had to import European talent to ensure invitations to top races. For instance, their first Tour stage win was with veteran GB rider Steve Cummings. However, the team insists that this hasn’t taken away from their ambition, and have said that in the next three to five years a black African could stand on the podium of the Tour de France. It may seem a bold statement, but similar incredulity greeted Dave Brailsford when he predicted that there would be a British winner within five years of Team Sky launching.

The squad certainly isn’t without African talent. Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot lit up the first week of the tour and wore the King of the Mountains Jersey for four days—the first African ever to don the polka dot jersey. It’s also the case that the African riders are younger than their European teammates, and will benefit immensely in their development by being on the team.

It’s also no secret that black representation in pro cycling is woefully poor. Of the 198 athletes at the 2015 Tour, only three were black, and only one came from a team outside of MTN-Qhubeka. Gregory Baugé is one of very few black athletes to climb to the heights of winning a world championships with eight world titles to his name. He also narrowly missed out on a gold medal at London 2012. MTN have also experienced some racism within the sport. While competing at le Tour it was reported that one of the team’s riders had experienced abuse from a fellow rider on the Tour of Austria.

However, the hope is that—with teams like MTN—more black athletes from all continents of the world will succeed in professional cycling. Latin American cyclists faced similar problems in the 1980s. An outsider nation at first, Colombians now dominate world cycling races, with the 2014 Giro D’Italia champion and double Tour de France runner up Nairo Quintana now a Colombian national hero.

The team will change their name to Team Dimension Data for 2016 but will carry on their mission of promoting Qhubeka. Success on the road has also allowed them to complete one of the most talked-about transfers in world cycling. Legendary sprinter Mark Cavendish has joined them for next season, raising their profile immeasurably and adding to the pool of talent and experience available for the home grown riders in the squad to benefit from. So while it’s clearly the case that they have achieved much for African cycling already, their best days look to be ahead of them.

For more information, visit qhubeka.org.

Sport in the City: Fitness and Fight Festival

Over the course of the academic year, as well as paying close attention to and prioritising the progress and successes of our university’s very own societies, teams and campus sports, let our new Sport in the City feature tempt you into a very different sporting day out. Whether it’s a new sport, a team you’ve never heard of, or just an event that interests us, we hope that we will be able to entice you to explore the wide sporting variety that the city has to offer during your time studying at the University of Manchester.

In the spotlight this week: Fitness and Fight Festival

Well… what is it?

Described as an afternoon out which has something on offer for the whole family, the Fitness and Fight Festival is a weekend long event which aims to promote the benefits, importance and the integral role that fitness, nutrition and regular sporting activity should play in our lives. After the successful 2013 festival in Manchester, the first ever independent event showcasing all thing Mixed Martial Arts, 2015 is the year of Fitness and Fight and will play host to a number of different activities throughout the weekend. With over 60 live events taking place ranging from general fitness classes to natural bodybuilding competitions and Thai boxing, or simply just presentations from keynote speakers, Q&A sessions with those in the know and open discussions, there really is something for everybody. So no matter whether you are a fitness fanatic or just somebody still in desperate need of feeling refreshed after freshers week, the Fitness and Fight Festival could be more than just an afternoon out; it could be the start of a much healthier future.

How do I get there?

The Fitness and Fight Festival takes place at EventCity which is part of the Trafford Centre complex, 6.2 miles from the University of Manchester Students’ Union. Now, please don’t be alarmed as although it is not exactly round the corner, travelling to and from EventCity can be rather straightforward whichever mode of transport takes your fancy. Admittedly not easily accessible by Metrolink, it’s now time to finally get your money’s worth from your UniRider or even a Stagecoach Day Rider as the bus is the best way to reach your destination. The Trafford Centre high frequency bus service, the X50, can be caught from Stand K in Piccadilly Gardens and runs on average every 15 minutes, 7 days a week, as does the 250, which also takes the same route. Free parking is also available for anybody wishing to drive to the event.

How much does it cost to get in?

Inevitably because of the incredibly wide variety of exhibitions, demonstrations, advice, guidance and equipment on show amongst many other features, which tempt people to travel from far and wide to the festival, the Fitness and Fight Festival will cost a little bit more than your average afternoon out. Yet when you actually weigh up and consider the amount of individual features on offer, it could certainly prove to be money well spent. A weekend admission ticket for both days of the event will cost you £30, or a day ticket to either day of the festival is available for purchase at £20. All tickets are available through the official Fitness and Fight website: fitnessandfightfestival.com

What are the facilities like? 

EventCity is essentially a box, a very large box, based in the outskirts of Manchester in Trafford. But whilst it may not look like much from the outside, it is what happens on the inside which has made it such an attractive location to host exhibitions, entertainment broadcasts and sporting events since its opening in late 2010. EventCity itself is part of the Trafford Centre shopping complex and the building is the second largest exhibition space outside of London with 28,000 sq. m. of space.

Tell me something I didn’t already know…

The last event attracted over 14,000 visitors over two days with event participation during the festival totalling 2,500 competitors and with 120 different stands. And although the special guests for the 2015 edition of the Fitness and Fight festival have still yet to be announced, expect to see some of the leading fitness guru’s as well as some of the biggest motivators and industry influencers in the business make an appearance during the festival. So if you’re in need of some words of wisdom, inspiration or just eager to see what all the fuss is about, you’re certainly in the right company.

Finally, when can I see this in action?

The 2015 Fitness and Fight Festival takes place on the weekend of Saturday 24th to Sunday 25th October from 10am till 5pm and for more information, visit their website.

 

If you have any requests for local teams, sports or events taking place in Manchester, or if you wish to be involved, please email us at: [email protected].

Black History Month: Walter Tull

Born in Folkestone, Kent, in 1888, Walter Tull would go on to live a groundbreaking, yet tragically short life; becoming the first ever mixed-race professional outfield footballer, the second person of mixed-race as a professional player, and the first ever mixed-race officer in the British army. Tull’s father, Daniel, was born in Barbados and moved to Kent, where he met Tull’s mother, Alice Elizabeth Palmer. Walter’s parents died while he was still young, and so him and his brother Edward were moved to a Methodist-run orphanage in London. Edward was adopted by a Glaswegian family and later became a successfully qualified dentist.

Walter, on the other hand, learned the trade of printing during his time at the orphanage, and in his free time, he would play for the orphanage’s football team. In 1908, he was signed to Clapham FC. His short spell at the club was a successful one—in 1909 he would lift the FA Amateur Cup with Clapham.

During that same year, Tull signed professionally for Tottenham Hotspur, earning four pounds a week—the maximum a footballer could earn at the time. His time at Tottenham was troubled, as he was the victim of racial abuse when Tottenham played an away game against Bristol City. “A section of the spectators made a cowardly attack upon him [Walter Tull] in language lower than Billingsgate…” reported one newspaper. Furthermore, Tull’s first-team opportunities were limited at Tottenham; he made only ten league appearances for the club.

In 1911, Tull moved to Northampton Town. At the time, Northampton were managed by Herbert Chapman, who would later go on to manage both Arsenal and Huddersfield Town to one FA Cup win and two First Division titles. Walter Tull was a regular for Northampton, playing over 100 times for the club, mainly as a wing half, a position supporting the centre half—who in those days would play in central midfield, not in the defence—in the now-unused 2-3-5 formation.

As a result of the outbreak of World War I, Tull joined the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment—more commonly known as the Footballers’ Battalion, and participated in the Battle of the Somme. His bravery and leadership qualities led to him gaining promotions in the army, and, on the recommendation of senior officers, he underwent officer training, despite rules at the time forbidding black men from becoming officers in the British army.

When Tull returned to the front lines in 1917, he fought in Italy, and his commanding officer praised his “gallantry and coolness” in leading a group of 26 men on a night raiding party. In 1918, Tull returned to France, and it was here, at the age of 29, where he lost his life during the Spring Offensive. His standing amongst his fellow soldiers was demonstrated by the fact that they fought valiantly to retrieve his body. But it was to no avail, and his body has never been recovered. He was recommended for a Military Cross but has never received it.

Review: The Crucible

It is impossible not to feel that this play has a timely relevance to our dissonant modern day society in which uncertainty is en masse. We witness an onset of insecurity through Miller’s intersection between two haunting periods of US history: The Salem witch trials of 1692, and the widespread paranoia engineered by the House of Un-American Activities Committee over a feared spread of Communism during the 1950s.

Frenetic dancing and witchcraft rituals in the opening scene leaves the audience feeling uneasy over the play’s immediate hysteria, and left me highly expectant of Sarah Amankwah’s role as Tituba. While her gestural performance fit the scene well, I felt somewhat disappointed by her vocal projection that at times seemed rather mumbling.

Jonjo O’Neill delivers a strong, dignified performance as John Proctor and is equally matched by Matti Houghton’s performance as his stoic wife, Elizabeth. Their on-stage relationship is one of the more striking aspects of this adaptation: It is clear that Director Steinbes is aware of the necessity to appeal to a wider audience, as The Crucible has been a fast favourite in GCSE, A-level and theatre courses nationwide. In recognising this, her production carefully blends more subtle themes of social interaction, gender, and sexuality with more obvious political issues within the text, and by doing so timelessly appeals to both the young and old.

I predicted some viewers might feel the mixture of accents to be confusing, but the blend of British and Irish accents seemed only to add to the authenticity of its New England colonial context. While the mish-mash of costume styles is at times slightly disjointed (puritan dresses featured alongside a Berghaus anorak…?) it only emphasizes the play’s ability to transcend time to the present day. The production’s visual oscillation between past and present is a jarring reminder that mass paranoia is in fact not all too alien a concept. In a world where an irrational fear of terrorism can be so easily stirred up over social media, pointed fingers and tales of witchcraft seem all the more pertinent.

Although at times Max Jones’s set feels a little stark, his design vision manages not to disturb the gravitas of the text. We witness a transformation in the concluding scenes as water floods the stage—a brave dramatic experiment that surprisingly isn’t too excessive. It serves its purpose as a powerful metaphor for the ‘purgation’ of countless unjust accusations.

The round theatre setting adds physicality to the feeling that the characters are involuntarily ‘pulled’ into a whirlwind of suspicion, as they are forced to wade their way through a murky onset of allegations. While the performance is undeniably somber, Jones’s watery set gives it a religious reverence that is mindful of the more existential elements of the play. Somehow, it works.

Having recently visited Miller’s alma mater at the University of Michigan to take part in preparations for his centenary symposium, it appears that modern dramatists, actors and theorists worldwide are eager to circulate his work today to make it accessible for all. It is for this reason that I was particularly excited to see that The Crucible was coming to Manchester. Miller is to this day revered by many, and serves as the father of the great allegorical play of the 20th century. This adaptation is not to be missed.

The Crucible will only be showing until the 24th of October, so book now to avoid disappointment. Ticket prices range from £8 to £34 and you can book from their website or call the Royal Exchange Theatre box office on 0161 833 9833.

Comedy is coming to Manchester

Women in Comedy Festival – Thursday the 15th of October to the 25th, Norther Quarter.
After two successful years producing Europe’s only Women in Comedy Festival, the 2015 Women in Comedy Festival UK will launch on Thursday the 15th at Manchester’s Frog and Bucket until Sunday the 25th of October. Over 50 shows will take place over 11 days in ten venues focused in Manchester’s Norther Quarter. Comedians include Susan Calman, Jo Coffey and Lara A King with actor Maxine Peake joining the team of patrons. “A festival filled with laughter combined with feminist principles taking place in the North… what’s not to support!” Of course, the festival is open to all genders.

Festival of the Spoken Nerd: Just for Graphs – Sunday the 25th of October, Lowry Theatre.
The science comedy phenomenon, Festival of the Spoken Nerd, is back with their show ‘Just for Graphs’, jam-packed with electrifying live experiments and statistically significant laughter. Experiments maestro Steve Mould (BBC1’s Britain’s Brightest) will perform stand-up based on data from the birth of his first child, geek songstress Helen Arney (BBC2’s Coast) sings an emotional tribute to the intrepid Philae lander, which travelled 4 billion miles only to run out of batteries on comet 67P, while Matt Parker (Discovery’s You Have Been Warned) will be “setting charts on fire” with the worlds greatest graph. The trio have racked up over a million views on YouTube for their experiments, songs and stand-up, as well as their material being one of the best reviewed at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Michael McIntyre: Happy and Glorious – Thursday the 29th of October to the 31st, Manchester Arena.
The UK’s number one comedian, Michael McIntyre, is set to return to the stage in 2015 with his brand new hotly anticipated UK & Ireland Arena tour, ‘Happy & Glorious’. Michael’s previous tour ‘Showtime’ was the biggest selling comedy tour in the world in 2012, playing to over 640,000 people including a record-breaking ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena matching the pop superstar Rihanna’s 2011 record. In 2013 he performed internationally; playing to sold out arenas in South Africa, Dubai, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. His show in Johannesburg was the largest ever comedy show in Africa and his Dubai shows won the Time Out Best Night Out Award.

Manford’s Comedy Club – Thursday the 5th of November, Bierkeller.
Why is local stand up comedy not high up on the list of what people think about doing when looking for a great night out? Differing from our nationally or even globally acclaimed line-up, Jason Manford wants to introduce us to the little known faces of the stand up strip. He is hand-selecting his favourite comedians to give his fans and audiences “a proper night out.”

Alan Carr: Yap, Yap Yap! – Thursday the 5th of November to the 7th, Manchester Apollo.
No stranger to yap, 2015 NTA winner Alan Carr will be yapping his way around the UK & Ireland with his brand new stand up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ The BAFTA and British Comedy Award-winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life. Tickets will sell out fast so don’t miss the chance to get up close and very personal with one of the country’s funniest, most cherished and most unique comedians at the very top of his game.

Pam Ann – Sunday 22nd of November, Manchester Opera House.
Pam Ann, the world’s favourite International Air Hostess and Queen of the Sky, is back in the UK with a brand new show for 2015. Jet-setting in direct from sell-out tours in Europe, USA, Australia, and following a six week run at London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Pam Ann will arrive at Manchester’s Opera House later next month. Pam Ann is the comic creation of writer and comedian Caroline Reid. Together they sell out every stage they hit from New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, Berlin and London, to name a few. In the UK, Pam Ann was the 4th best-selling female comedian of 2014 wedged between Dawn French and her long-time inspiration, Joan Rivers.

Review: Indy Man Beer Con

The Independent Manchester Beer Convention, or Indy Man Beer Con (IMBC), is the beer festival for those who aren’t so bothered about CAMRA, casks and beery heritage as well as those who would rather drink a third of a pint of extra-hoppy rhubarb IPA, brewed in a shed in the Peak District. Although there are some cask ales on sale for the orthodox drinker, the IMBC aims to showcase a more “progressive” side of beer.

Photo: Jack Pople

Last Thursday, I headed down to catch the convention’s first session at Manchester’s historic Victoria Baths—whose crumbling, Edwardian splendour is an unusual, but lovely place for sampling some deliciously tasty beer. The convention stretches across three main halls, and a warren of green-tiled rooms and hallways.

It was pretty bustling. My companions and I grabbed a table and got down to some beer tasting.

Photo: Jack Pople

I started off with a super tasty Black Widow Imperial Stout, from Ad Hop of Liverpool. Taste-wise, it’s a chocolate, coffee and malt explosion—dangerously drinkable at 9.3% ABV. The stouts and porters were out in force. Honourable mentions go to Ireland’s Galway Bay and their refreshing, crisp milk stout, Buried At Sea. And also, to Magic Rock of Huddersfield, and their Bearded Lady Stout (another boozy heavy hitter at 10.5% ABV), which had the smell of ripe apples—but upon tasting, it had a deliciously rich, but smooth coffee flavour, and a slight savoury finish.

The best kind of weird beer from that night, was the Tzatziki Sour from Merseyside’s Madhatter Brewery. It genuinely tasted like Tzatziki—a bit sour and yoghurty, with a definite cucumber edge. But somehow, it was still beer and it was absolutely delicious.

Less good, but also unusual, was the Ice Cream Pale (a collaboration by Buxton and Swedish craft brewers Omnipollo). Very pale, sweet with a vanilla finish, and a touch of creaminess. Sounds nice, but ultimately, it was a bit too sweet and tasted a bit too artificial, too.

Later, we went outside to grab some food from one of the many trucks and stalls which had been set up to feed the beery punters. It was all pretty expensive (£8 for pie and mash!). I didn’t go for anything more than a portion of chips, but my flatmate splashed out on a paneer kebab which looked tasty. Very generously, he let me try some, and I can indeed confirm that it tasted great.

If there was one thing I didn’t like about the IMBC, it was the pricing. Craft beer is more expensive, but IMBC prices are listed by the 1/3 pint. That’s not a bad thing, but there were very few beers for less than £1.50 a third. My maths GCSE tells me that’s £4.50 a pint! This might put a lot of these delicious brews out of the price range for many students.

Photo: Jack Pople

Finally, I ended the night in Manchester’s own Cloudwater Brew Co.—away from the main rooms, sipping on their crisp, refreshing and autumnal Red Ale (4.5%). By this point, the notes I was scrawling down were getting messy, so I decided to call it a night—it was last orders anyway.

Next year’s IMBC is on my calendar already. Maybe it’s not the cheapest place to drink. But the gorgeous venue, buzzing atmosphere and excellent selection of beers more than make up for it.

 

Stanley is a co-writer for specialbrewsmcr.com beer blog. Follow them on twitter @SpecialBrewsMCR

 

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Ad Hop Brewery as Ad Hoc. This far wittier name has been amended within the article.

‘Purple and Proud’ – Women’s and Men’s rugby record stunning victories at Varsity 2015

The Varsity event was another successful evening for the University of Manchester’s rugby union teams. The Ladies recorded a spectacular 55-5 victory over Didsbury Ladies, while the Men’s team came through a tough match to beat the University of Sheffield 18-17.

The Ladies got the event off to a flyer, scoring four tries in just over 20 minutes, with Miguela Kerins and Georgina Palmer scoring once, and fullback Selena Lockyer scoring twice. Never looking like slowing down, the team ran in a further three tries before half-time. Palmer added to her tally, running down the wing to score. Emma Procter and Olivia Ball also got in on the action, Procter with a powerful run and finish and Ball completing a lovely backs move with a score. This resulted in the handsome half-time scoreline of 43-0.

The second half begin in similar fashion to the first, with Lisa Neumann handing off several players to score Manchester’s 8th try. However, the free scoring that characterised the first half did not carry over to the second and, for this, credit must be given to Didsbury Ladies for showing pride and competing, despite the score line being out of reach.

For a ten-minute period mid-second half, it was all Didsbury, stealing several line-outs and gradually building momentum through some Mancunian discipline. Towards 60 minutes, Manchester showed great determination to defend their try line, countering several waves of Didsbury pressure. Manchester eventually buckled and Didsbury scored, making the score 50-5 and thus avoiding an embarrassing whitewash.

Provoked by the Didsbury try, Manchester upped their game for the last 10 minutes. Manchester outside centre Olivia Ball put in a thumping tackle on 73 minutes, and finally, following several waves of quality backs play that couldn’t quite be finished off, Selena Lockyear went in at the corner to score Manchester’s 9th try. Ball, again, crossed the gain line, sucking in defenders, leaving space out wide for ball to go through the hands and Lockyear to score.

The match ended 55-5, with Megan Grant-Harris converting 5 of the 9 tries scored. The result was topped off by a celebration in front of the fans, with the team leading them in song. The Men had a lot to do to emulate the Ladies.

Manchester Ladies’ team vs Didsbury Ladies:

15. S Lockyer, 14. G Palmer (Capt), 13. O Ball, 12. M Kerins, 11. L Neumann, 10. M Grant-Harris, 9. O Westmacott; 1. R Haywood, 2. E Procter, 3. Z Childs Ford, 4. S Hodge, 5. G Forbes, 6. C Shilladay, 7. E Alexander, 8. L Muddiman.

Subs used: 16. N Wragg, 17. A Harris, 18. S Floyd, 29. J Pieri

SPORTManchester: The Women’s Team are all smiles

The Men’s game, while lacking the try-scoring, was an equally thrilling affair. The Manchester team were under the cosh from the beginning, Sheffield not fazed by the fervent varsity atmosphere. The away side showed great attacking flair; neat footwork and pace from the Sheffield fullback showed they were here to play. A Sheffield penalty in opposition territory resulted in a kick to the corner rather than an attempt at goal. This ambition was rewarded: the line-out resulted in another penalty, with a subsequent scrum, and on 9 minutes the Sheffield 14 finished a brilliantly-executed backs move in the corner. This took the score to 0-5.

Manchester looked nervy following the try, aware of the capability of the Sheffield team. James Carding converted a penalty in the 18th minute to claw back to 3-5, and yet, the home team found themselves immediately back under pressure again. The Sheffield back 3 were again causing havoc, making several line breaks. On 22, Sheffield scored again, this time utilising the weight advantage in the pack to cross the line with a rolling maul.

With the score at 3-10, and the Varsity crowd almost silent, Manchester had to respond. A Harry Wakefield interception try on 29 minutes was the answer. Wakefield anticipated the Sheffield pass, intercepted it, and showed a clean pair of heels, running nearly 40 metres to score. With score back to 8-10, both the team and the crowd were energised.

For next 10 minutes it was all Manchester, with Jack Smith the scrum-half marshalling his troops to continually get over the gain line. A knock-on close to the Sheffield line denied the home team a second try. The first half finished with the match delicately poised.

The second half began positively, Manchester putting together the phases, getting a rhythm to their game. They were awarded a penalty on the 47th minute, which was crucially missed. Sheffield, whose application and desire couldn’t be praised enough, again chose a deep line-out over a kick at goal. In similar fashion, they were rewarded for their intent, putting together a powerful maul which left the field open for the backs to run in another try. 8-17, Manchester had a mountain to climb.

A quick was response was vital, and this was achieved when Charlie Read, taking on the kicking duties, converted a penalty in the 57th minute to make it 11-17. 10 minutes later, the comeback was completed. Probing play from substitute Hanoba Etomi had resulted in good field position for the home side. A well-executed line out gave the foundation for a strong rolling maul, with Steve Bryne scoring. Read added the extras, making it 18-17 to Manchester.

The final 10 minutes were hectic, Manchester erring on the side of caution, playing conservative, territorial rugby.  This was teamed with some heroic rear-guard action, with several penalties being earnt in defence. The team were almost there, and could’ve sealed the victory in the 78th minute had Will Simmonds had the support following a line break. With the tension unbearable, the game going past 4 minutes of overtime, the victory was sealed. Hysteria ensued. The traditional pitch invasion was that extra bit sweeter following such a match.

Praise must go to Sheffield for showing such intent on an occasion when it would’ve been easy to submit. However, the ultimate praise must go to the home team for coming through adversity and recording a truly stunning victory.

Manchester Men’s team vs Sheffield:

15. J Edwards, 14. A Jones, 13. W Simmonds, 12. J Barton, 11. C Read, 10. J Carding, 9. J Smith; 1. H Wakefield, 2. J Mowatt, 3. F Kelly, 4. H Wooles, 5. E Matthews, 6. J Bruns, 7. W Harrison, 8. S Bryne.

Subs Used: Replacements: 16. W Sheridan, 17. A Saleh, 18. W Shephard, 20. Will Carter, 22. H Etomi.

Album: Le Butcherettes – A Raw Youth

Released 18th of September via Ipecac Records

8/10

It’s only been a year since Le Butcherettes’ last album, Cry Is For The Flies, was released. During that time the band, led by Teri Suarez a.k.a. Teri Gender Bender, have been constantly touring with the likes of The Melvins and Antemasque, as well as writing and recording their third album A Raw Youth, produced by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

Upon the album’s release, Teri told Noisey that it was an “ode to rebels” and that much of the inspiration for this album—and the band in general—finds its roots in the history of Mexican culture. Le Butcherettes have also seen a change in aesthetic—they are now dressed head to toe in red, to replace Teri’s former onstage image of being covered in fake blood and raw meat (a statement on the treatment of women in society).

A Raw Youth kicks off with the band’s signature garage-punk sound in ‘Shave The Pride’. This song feels like the musical equivalent of having a shot in your arm and is a basic rallying call of “wake up, look around, and do something”. This head on approach continues with ‘Mallely’ and ‘Reason To Die Young’, which sees the band firmly in arena-rock territory. Things slow down when the album reaches fourth track ‘La Uva’ (‘Grape’ in English) with Iggy Pop, in which he sounds like some kind of monster from a fairy tale over a clumsy but entrancing psychedelic backdrop.

Teri explained the subject matter in ‘Sold Less Than Gold’ in the album’s press release, stating it “reflects the story of women who are sold into marriages or into sex slavery and how resilient their spirits are.” She told MTV News this inspiration came from her visiting Iran and meeting women that were “blacklisted for being widows or single mothers.” It’s a delicate topic to be dealing with and runs the risk of generalising and stereotyping certain women. Doubly controversial is that Teri takes on the perspective of one of these women, deliberately singing in a somewhat tired and weak voice. Isn’t this song meant to be portraying these women as resilient?

‘Stab My Back’ is easily the grooviest and most addictive track on the album with a punchy, explosive chorus. “Stab my back when I’m my strongest/your steel knife’s gonna make no red settle down,” Teri sings sultrily over a beat so hypnotic that you never want it to end. But unfortunately it does end quite abruptly and ‘They Fuck You Over’ is shoved in your face before you have time to let the previous track sink in. It’s another straightforward garage-punk with a direct no-bullshit message. Teri’s distorted, screechy vocals in the chorus are simply brilliant. “Come fuck me over!” she dares to whoever “they” is—presumably the powers that be.

‘Witchless C Spot’ echoes back to the power-rock vibe at the beginning of the album but its quiet, tense verses juxtaposed with a loud, dynamic chorus makes for a very satisfying song. Things get delightfully weird again with ‘The Hitch Hiker’, which tells the story of a female hitch-hiker being picked up by a male driver with intentions to take advantage of her and kill her. Teri’s voices alternates between the two characters, making for a fun song which perhaps distracts from its serious storyline.

‘Lonely & Drunk’ has a disjointed and somewhat ugly feel. But I can only assume that this reflects the subject matter of lost, lonely and drunk writers, who Teri has always credited as an influence, most notably on debut Sin Sin Sin (2011). ‘Oil The Shoe If The Critter Knew Any Better’ taps back into her playful vocals and jumpy keyboard. It’s one of the more lyrically ambiguous tracks with one hell of a catchy chorus designed to get crowds belting it out with their fists up. End track ‘My Half’ featuring John Frusciante is a decent enough song but not much of a closer, although there doesn’t seem to be any other place for it on the album, so perhaps it should have been left for an EP or B-side.

Le Butcherettes are still the same eccentric, challenging, noisy in-your-face band. But now they sound more layered, more ready to conquer and more curious about the outer world as opposed to just the inside of Teri’s head. They remain uncompromising, and downright strange—what’s especially great is that all the same elements of their bizarreness are there on every record, but in a new and exciting way.

I’m not sure this album would be considered an “ode to rebels” in everyone’s eyes, but that’s not the point. Teri has made her statement about certain power structures that exist in all societies and I struggle to think of many artists in a similar league to her. Le Butcherettes have once again proved themselves to be one of the most inventive and intriguing bands around—and not to mention having one of the best band names in the business.

BEST TRACKS: ‘Stab My Back’, ‘They Fuck You Over’, ‘Shave The Pride’, ‘Witchless C Spot’, ‘Oil The Shoe If Critter Knew Any Better’, ‘La Uva’

The art of telling a story through tea

On the 28th of September, I had the honour of being invited to Bernadine Tay’s exclusive Quinteassential tasting event, where ingTEAdients had been sourced from all around the world and collected, to adorn the shrine that was the tea blending station set up in The Wyvern Room of The Midland Hotel, Manchester.

As I arrived, expecting to be greeted by a room full of old ladies drinking English breakfast, I was delighted to see a small table in the centre of the suite that was laid out exclusively for six loose-leaf drinkers, bloggers, and food writers. Each place had a mysterious envelope on its table mat, marked with the guest’s name.

As our intrigue grew, Bernadine introduced herself as creator of Quinteassential, the passion in front (in no way does she take a back seat) of the brand and its design.

Bernadine went on to explain how she loved to drink tea from a young age, with her Mother steeping black tea and oranges in a tin kettle, while her family sat around for cakes and conversation. As she travelled, Bernadine noticed the almost ritual-like practice of tea that was present all over the world.

Each place to which she ventured had its own unique way of brewing, flavouring and serving the beverage as a means of lubricating the vocal chords and creating smooth, flowing conversation. Holiday gifts would come as hot-red Rooibos from Africa; smokey Lapsang Souchong from China, and musky floral Oolong from India.

Passing around the various boxes for us to view and smell, we all eagerly awaited the revelation of the connection between our envelopes and the blending table. Introductions over, Bernadine divulged: “The moment you’ve all been waiting for; you can open your envelopes.”

Now, before the event, every attendant had received an email from qtea’s Cassie & Amy, asking for a little bit about their personality, including one word in a tweet and a few facts. I had replied with the description that ‘I always like to try something new, am creative, friendly, warm and open-minded’;  with the word ‘enthusiastic’; and that I was studying at university. I didn’t think anything of this question, until it all clicked into place when I opened my envelope.

Bernadine had designed individual tea recipes for each of the attendants at her event based on the information that we had given her. She had thoughtfully taken the time to predict our respective personaliTEAs.

I couldn’t believe how accurate Bernadine’s concoction was from this brief sum up of my character. The tea recipe in my envelope sounded magical, and I loved that it was also open to interpretation, meaning that I could try a little bit of everything from the blending table. It was like a dream come true: potions class but with tea and without Professor Snape.

 

“FUN”

“For nights of midnight oil burning, partying yet still staying fit, Ellie’s blend is healthy and fun. South African Rooibos, fennel seeds, pomegranate seeds and a spray of flowers is a blend that is hydrating and bursting with antioxidants.

Caffeine-free and calming, Ellie’s blend is beautiful hot or cold, and one that is made for sharing.

____________________________________

RECIPE

A scoop:

Rooibos with hint of Seville Orange

A sprinkle:

Fennel seeds

Pomegranate seeds

Heather flowers

Red safflowers

Amaranth flowers

Sugar stars

 

I followed the recipe and surely enough, before I had even mixed it, it cast a spell on me. I was overcome with elation, asking tireless questions about the history of tea, the origin of the mint leaves—what were safflowers? Was this blending table available to purchase?

Being urged to shake my blend so that the components could infuse, I rotated my jar like an hourglass full of sand, watching the multicoloured grains combine and intersperse to form a beautiful new compound.

We were advised to wait a few days before trying our teas, so that the flavours would have time to brew in their transparent cauldrons.

Meanwhile, we sat down to enjoy an exclusive afternoon tea laid out by The Midland Hotel, which consisted of traditional cucumber sandwiches, warm sultana and plain baked scones, various cake selections and the modern twist of Vimto jelly with a vanilla panna cotta lid.

This was served, instead of on the customary three-tier plate tower, on an abstract wooden structure that did, admittedly, look a little like an upturned drawer. Manager James will be pained to see that description, but it honestly adds to the charm of the re-styled English convention.

The chocolate-orange Opera cake was smooth and soft, with its fine layers of alternating sponge and buttercream topped with a rich ganache that was almost mirror-like in surface. This stood alongside a perfectly moist square of cinnamon carrot cake, the infusion of warming spices making contrast to the sweet and tangy cream-cheese frosting. The scones were kept warm and snug inside a blanket of thick cotton cloth, which made the butter melt and sink pleasingly into the depths of the cakey bread.

Alongside the food, I drank an accompanying Quinteassential loose leaf brew: British Mint and Caramel. This twist on a classic brings me to the description of the products themselves.

It was in 2010 that Bernadine became inspired to nurture her passion for exploration and taste to form her own brand, one which would encompass all ranges of tea from the finest gardens around the world: Quinteassential.

Not only does the product itself taste incredible, but it is also clear that the designers understand the relation of taste to all the senses; sight, sound, smell, and touch.

The boxes are beautifully designed to illustrate the colours that correspond with each tea. For example the ‘Jewel of Africa’, that takes rich rubies, golds and ambers to reflect the resplendent moment in the evening sky when the sun meets the horizon.

The back of the product comes complete with an individual QR-code that when scanned plays a piece of music designed to conjure images of the Serengeti plains; its melody lasts for the exact time that it takes for the tea to brew.

Redcurrants, rooibos and sandalwood make up the aroma of this tea, and the earthy scents evoke the atmosphere of a warm Saharan night, with fire in the air and life bursting in its midst.

Even the packaging is tailored with the luxury experience in mind. Like a drawer to its dresser, the box slides over its base to create that inexplicable pleasure that comes from a perfect fit.

It was so enlightening to hear someone speak with the same passion and excitement about travel, sound, senses and smells to that that I am normally met with a raised eyebrow when unleashing. This day left me feeling invigorated, with a renewed sense of love not just for tea, but for flavour combinations and the relation of food and taste to happiness and the soul.

The brand does everything with finesse and accuracy, making a polished product that I am proud to have had the honour of viewing so exclusively.

Like when Bernadine said, “when I work at The Midland, I’ll know I’ve made it,” I concur, but for Quinteassential.

 

Accompanying music: Feist: The Reminder

Use the code “Quintea” to get 15 pe cent off

quinteassential.co.uk

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ to hold open auditions in Manchester

Disney’s award-winning musical ‘The Lion King’ is due to be holding open auditions in Manchester for roles in the West End production that is celebrating 16 triumphant years at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Auditions for male/female singers and dancers will be taking place on Sunday the 1st of November at The Dancehouse Theatre, Oxford Road. Morning registration is at 10am and it is advised that auditionees arrive early. The afternoon registration is at 1:30pm.

Now in its 16th successful year at London’s Lyceum Theatre, ‘The Lion King’ has been viewed by more than 80 million people across six continents. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday the 19th of October 1999, ‘The Lion King’ has entertained over 12 million theatre-goers, and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. It also recently became the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time. Nine productions are concurrently running across the globe.

Disney’s casting team are looking for male and female singers with strong soulful or gospel style voices who also have good movement skills. Singers should be of excellent ability and be able to dance well in order to make up the ensemble. The casting team is also looking for strong dancers with a modern dance background; any acrobatic skills are keenly desired. Performers of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to attend.

Singers should be prepared to sing a contemporary pop or rock song and should bring the sheet music. There will be no backing tracks; however, a pianist will be provided. Dancers must be warmed up and ready to dance in jazz shoes or bare feet. Dancers may also be asked to sing and should therefore prepare one rock or pop song that showcases their voice and vocal range.

Open auditions will also be held in Birmingham (31st of October) and London (singers on 7th of November and dancers on 21st of November). Attendees must be 18 years or older and must be eligible to work in the UK. All hopefuls must be prepared to stay all day and should bring a copy of their CV with a photograph stapled to it.

For more information see here.

Vegetarianism in our meat-orientated culture

As someone who has previously consumed meat on a regular basis, the process of going veggie in our meat-orientated society was testing. Not only is the transition of cutting out meat difficult, but concocting vegetarian recipes that are convenient, healthy and tasty can be a challenge—particularly when you’re a busy student on a budget.

Over the summer I gradually phased meat out of my diet, to the point of total vegetarianism. So far, the process has been rewarding, but certainly not without its difficulties. As any student reading this can relate to, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Keeping on top of your studies, carrying out household chores, exercising, socialising with friends, having time to yourself and preparing a satisfying meal from scratch is no mean feat.

It’s a common stereotype that students live on takeaways and convenience food, their culinary skills barely surpassing the ability to boil pasta—yet this definitely isn’t always the case. I, for one, relish the satisfaction of cooking a delicious meal for myself and friends, but often struggle with finding the time and patience to do so.

In my pledge to become vegetarian, I have found that the secret to success is in planning ahead. Cooking meals in bulk and freezing them means I spend less time in the kitchen and don’t find myself settling for convenience food too often. And leftovers can go in the freezer, so I waste less food, too.

One of the biggest struggles of becoming a vegetarian is the scepticism you will likely encounter from friends and family. It doesn’t take long before you grow weary of people donning their pseudo-nutritionist hats, telling you how hard it will be to consume enough protein and iron as a vegetarian. But believe it or not, it is possible to eat a balanced diet as a vegetarian and get all the right nutrients. Beans, eggs, cheese, lentils and yoghurt are all high in protein, and are just as readily available as meat. So take that, cynics!

“But we were designed to eat meat!” is another argument I’ve been faced with. Vegetarianism might not be for everyone, but assuming that everyone should eat meat because “it’s natural” is a poor argument to oppose vegetarianism. Why should what is considered natural outweigh personal values?

Despite the adjustments I’ve had to make to my diet during the process of cutting out meat, I really haven’t missed it as much as I imagined I would. Not only do I feel healthier, but I’ve also become increasingly more creative in the kitchen now that I’ve been experimenting with meat-free dishes. If you’re thinking of going vegetarian, or even just fancy the idea of trying it out, I’d highly recommend it. I’m sure you’ll find it far easier than you first anticipated, just as I did.

The Problem with the NFL

Last Sunday, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady made his 213th appearance in the NFL against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. Two weeks before, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brady threw his 400th career touchdown pass to Danny Amendola to give the Patriots a 19-3 lead, and became only the fourth player in NFL history to reach this milestone (they went on to beat the Jaguars 51-17). While this historic moment was widely celebrated by NFL fans worldwide, it is worth bearing in mind that Brady wasn’t meant to start this game, nor the two preceding it, nor in Dallas.

Roger Goodell, Commissioner for the NFL, gave Brady a four-game suspension, along with a $1 million fine for the New England Patriots, and the loss of two draft picks, in the aftermath of the Deflategate scandal, where it was found that the Patriots were playing with balls below regulation pressure in their 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in January, to win the AFC championship game and take them to Superbowl 49. Brady’s suspension was awarded on the grounds that there was “substantial and credible evidence to conclude” that he was “at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots’ employees involved in the deflation of the footballs.”

This seems a vastly excessive punishment when you consider that just two weeks before, Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Greg Hardy received the same suspension after being criminally convicted of domestic violence, with his charges including strangulation, physical abuse, and death threats toward an ex-girlfriend. Brady’s own conviction was only later overturned—after multiple appeals—in federal court by senior judge Richard M. Berman, and even then it was only on the grounds that the original trial lacked “fair due process.” Berman declared that the NFL’s campaign against Brady lacked “fundamental fairness” and “evident impartiality.”

In other words, the NFL was out to get him. And it’s easy to see why. After the scandal, Brady and the Patriots were very unpopular, with fans worldwide vying for their blood; as far as they were concerned, the Patriots had cheated, and they deserved to be duly reprimanded. The trouble is, the NFL isn’t just a governing body, it’s a franchise, and its commercial success is dependent upon support from its fans. Failure to properly convict Brady would’ve likely seen a drop in revenue, representing a poor business decision by Goodell. So right from the start, NFL’s board of conviction had a vested interest in the outcome of the trial, making for hardly a fair conviction.

The fact that any NFL hearing is less of a trial and more of a business meeting all but defeats the purpose of any disciplinary action—the board stands not to uphold decent behaviour, strict morals, and the creation of good role models for the numerous young people who follow the sport, but to make the most commercially-savvy moves that it can, regardless of what it has to do with fairness. Many players convicted of assault, DUI, domestic abuse or theft receive limp-wristed, token suspensions of just one or two games, simply because of the lack of any real disciplinary board.

September 2015 marked the first full calendar month in which an NFL player hasn’t been arrested in more than six years. The poor behaviour regularly demonstrated throughout the league is symptomatic of a sport in need of an upheaval. Until discipline and good personal conduct become a priority over results, and more to the point, money, the NFL will remain a league with a very real problem.

Depression in sport: Defeating the stigma

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was one of the great England all-rounders in cricket, and one of the outstanding players of the dramatic 2005 Ashes win against Australia. Before the 2005 Ashes, Flntoff’s bat provider (Woodworm), were on the brink of liquidation. It speaks volumes that after his performances in the series, Woodworm were saved by the fact that everyone wanted a replica of Freddie’s bat. Sales soared as every kid in the country wanted to be the next Andrew Flintoff.

Throughout his England years, Flintoff fell foul of the tabloid newspapers in regards to alcohol and battles to control his weight. People thought he was an idiot who was throwing away his career. The press slated him.

A few years ago, Flintoff led a BBC documentary exploring depression in sport. He had battled depression throughout his career and developed a severe dependency on alcohol. In the program, Flintoff spoke to many sporting heroes, who know all too well the struggles of depression, such as football hard man Vinnie Jones, England Cricket teammate Steve Harmison, boxer Barry McGuigan, and Neil Lennon amongst others.

Flintoff described the negative experiences he had with the tabloid papers at his lowest point for the very first time. The hurt that no one seemed capable of understanding what he was going through. Or simply refused. The documentary brought a rather interesting conversation with former tabloid editor, Piers Morgan. Flintoff began by asking if the media reported sport responsibly, to which Morgan replied rather bluntly “No, not really”. Sports journalists in his eyes do not think about the consequences of their stories on others: “sport is visceral, it’s raw, it’s live, it’s dangerous, it’s exciting, the rewards are massive and the downside is you occasionally get a headline you don’t like”.

One must think that this is the media in a nutshell, but it was Morgan’s comments on depression that were rather haunting. Commenting on depression in sport, Morgan stated that “if you’re called to play for your country at sport, then it’s such an incredible privilege and honour that to actually claim to be depressed because you’re having to stay in a five star hotel while you’re playing cricket for England to me seemed ridiculous”. When it implied that he couldn’t possibly be depressed, Flintoff asked “clinically you cannot be depressed?”, forcing Morgan to admit he “couldn’t grasp it”.

The ignorance showed by Morgan is appalling, but unfortunately, he is not alone in this view. My criticism does not lie in the media, but rather the lack of knowledge that people have about depression. That is the most painful thing that haunts people suffering with depression. For Clarke Carlisle, the former footballer who attempted suicide in 2014, many sportsmen and sportswomen worry about “losing pride” if they discuss their mental health, or that it will have a “negative effect” on their prospects, because many do not understand what they are going through.

Fast forward from Piers Morgan’s interview, the football world was sent into shock when Robert Enke, the German International Goalkeeper who was going to be going to the World Cup in South Africa, committed suicide. Enke had been battling depression for six years when he stepped in front of a train near Hannover in 2009. He had struggled to overcome the death of his daughter Lara, who died at the age of two in 2006 of a rare heart condition.

Enke’s widow, Teresa Enke, believed that he also had difficulty coping with the intense scrutiny of professional football. “Pressure can become a sickness. Being part of the national team also had a big effect, always being in the public eye both negatively and positively. It really got to him”.

The writer Ronald Reng, who was a friend of Enke’s and took on the task of recounting his story in the exceptional book, A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke, spoke of how Enke hid his depression because of his role as a goalkeeper: “In our achievement-oriented society a goalkeeper, the last bastion in defense, can’t be a depressive. So Robert summoned up a huge amount of strength to keep his depression secret. He locked himself away in his illness.”

Reng added: “The last wish Robert had was to write this book. At least there is an understanding of what someone suffering depression goes through. Through Robert’s death, there is in Germany a higher understanding that this is an illness, and that people need help.”

Recently, a Fifpro survey indicated that depression in football is widespread. 38% of 607 players interviewed reported symptoms at some stage, especially those who had suffered serious injuries. Former professional footballers reported more mental health problems than current players. Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, the Fifpro Chief Medical Officer in charge of the survey, said professional football is littered with psychological pitfalls for the players. “Once the players stop with intensive physical activities they lose their structured life, their social support by trainers and team mates diminishes, they need to find their place in ‘regular’ society, and find another occupation. Consequently, they are likely to experience some mental health problems during this period.”

Perhaps with this recent survey, it reveals the impact that Enke’s death has had. Certainly this is the view of his widow, Teresa, who has spoken of how people are “a lot more open about depression”.

Dr. Gouttebarge has made a rallying call to football, that everyone has the “collective responsibility to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. All players, whether active or retired, can learn optimal behaviours and coping skills to manage the symptoms of mental illness”.

It is not only in sport that we need to remove the stigma associated with mental illness, but also in society itself. When Clarke Carlise attempted suicide by driving into a lorry, I could not believe some of the comments that I was reading on facebook. “He’s been selfish. He should have found a nice attic to hang himself.” Are people prepared to simply let others give up? We need to move forward and encourage people to acknowledge their symptoms, to act upon them and take a step in the right direction towards recovery. With further support to people and their families, we will hopefully begin to understand further why depression occurs, and take an important step towards prevention.

Hard times for the kings of European football

They might still have their crowns, but they have lost their thrones. The kings we’re talking about are the crowned champions in three of European football’s biggest realms—England, Italy and Spain—where this year there has been an unexpected change in hierarchy. Despite clearly winning their respective championships last year, and being the undisputed favourites going into this season, the three kings – Chelsea, Juventus and Barcelona—have faced a turbulent start to their seasons, which has caused them to fall, perhaps only temporarily, from their thrones. Two months into the season, and ahead of the international break, it’s time to sum up what has happened to these kings without thrones.

Feeling Blue(s)

Let’s start with Chelsea, whose fall is probably the most painful among the three. The Blues have collected just eight points in eight matches (same as first-time promotees Bournemouth), and, rather than challenging for first place with Arsenal and the Manchester clubs, they are now trying to escape from the relegation zone, which is just one spot below them. Last week’s home defeat against Southampton was the fourth of the season for the Blues, who, in the whole 2014/15 campaign, just suffered three KOs in total.

What happened to Mourinho’s army? Fragility is probably the right word to describe the ongoing saga at Stamford Bridge. Not only from a defensive point of view (the “bus” has broken), but also in terms of mentality, since many players have lost their confidence, such as 2014-15 PFA’s player of the year Eden Hazard and assist man Cesc Fàbregas. The only person who hasn’t lost his self-belief is José Mourinho, who, despite the poor performances from his team and the controversial management of the Eva Carneiro episode, said after the game with Saints: “If Chelsea sack me, they sack the best manager this club has ever had.”

Poor Old Lady

The “Chelsea phenomenon” is not an isolated case. Let’s take a plane and fly to Turin, Italy, the home of Juventus FC. The “Bianconeri” experienced an almost perfect season last year, winning the “Scudetto” (their fourth in a row), the Italian Cup and reaching the UEFA Champions League final. Therefore, nobody would have expected a poor campaign this year from the Italian kings.

However, summer departures of Massimiliano Allegri’s side’s spine—Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez—have caused the Old Lady to have a terrible start. Just two victories in the first seven matches (the first at Juventus Stadium arrived just last weekend against newly promoted Bologna).

Meanwhile, Fiorentina—who, under new coach Paulo Sousa, have managed to win six of their first seven encounters—have surprisingly reclaimed the throne of Serie A after 16 years of waiting. Despite the situation for Allegri’s team being darker than anyone could have expected (ten points off the top), some signs of light are starting to appear: Juventus’ new signings, such as Argentinian sensation Paulo Dybala, Germany international Sami Khedira and striker Mario Mandzukic, have started to contribute significantly to the team. The “Bianconeri” are also top of their Champions League group, having beaten Manchester City at the Etihad, and Sevilla at home, in the first two matches of the competition.

Leading Yellow Submarine

Sevilla link us to the third fallen lord of our journey. Neither treble winners Barcelona, nor Real Madrid, and not even Atletico Madrid are top of the table in Spain. Indeed, a “Yellow Submarine” is leading La Liga.

The reference is not to the Beatles’ song, but with Villareal CF, who are nicknamed the Yellow Submarine (“El Submarino Amarillo” in Spanish), because of the team’s full yellow kit. What makes this story even more special is that Marcelino’s team only managed promotion to La Liga three years ago, after experiencing a disastrous season in 2012. Five consecutive victories, including defeats of Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, have surprisingly pushed them to the throne of the Spanish championship.

Barcelona have been through some difficult weeks, with two defeats in the last three matches. The main problem for Luis Enrique’s boys is the absence of their number ten, Lionel Messi, who has been ruled out since the end of September because of a knee injury. Captain Iniesta is also sidelined.

However, the mission to reclaim their throne might seem more achievable for the Blaugrana given their wealth of talent and tactical abilities than it could prove to be for the other two, Chelsea and Juventus.

Currently, Villareal are only one point ahead.

The battle for the title is still long, but, if it keeps surprising us, fans should be prepared to enjoy a fantastic rest of the year. And who knows, perhaps some new kings will be crowned.

Sport in the City: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

Over the course of the academic year, as well as paying close attention to, and prioritising the progress and successes of, our university’s very own societies, teams and campus sports, let our new Sport in the City feature tempt you into a very different sporting day out. Whether it’s a new sport, a team about whom you did not know, or just an event that interests us, we hope that we will be able to entice you to explore the wide sporting variety that the city has to offer during your time studying at the University of Manchester.

In the spotlight this week: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

Well… what is it?

If a visit to Hyde United to view some non-league football or a trip to the National Cycling Centre to watch some BMX cycling wasn’t quite your thing, maybe my third instalment of Sport in the City might just be the kick you need to venture out and watch some local sporting activity. There is no specific art to getting out of bed, and it surely wouldn’t take much to marshal your flatmates to turn off Netflix, get their shoes on and make this weekend different to any other spent chilling in Manchester.

Between Friday 16th and Sunday 18th October, Manchester opens its arms and welcomes to the city the biggest event in the Taekwondo calendar: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix. Recognised as an Olympic sport since the year 2000, Taekwondo is a Korean martial art form that was developed during the 1940/50s, blending indigenous fighting forms such as taekkyeon, gwonbeop, and subak with an influence from foreign martial arts, too. The sport has since developed to become one of the most popular and widely-practiced martial art forms in the world, with some of the finest fighters in the field flocking to Manchester for this prestigious event.

How do I get there?

The Grand Prix will take place at the Etihad Campus at the Manchester Regional Arena, which is exactly two miles away from the student union. Therefore, from Manchester Piccadilly Gardens, there are several options of public transport that you can use to get to and from the Etihad Campus safely. With this event, I would advise the Metrolink tram service from Manchester Piccadilly, with fast and frequent services running on a regular basis. However if you’ve forked out for a UniRider, or simply just prefer to catch the bus from the city centre, the 216 and 231 services saunter directly to the Etihad Campus, again on a frequent basis. Please, however, do plan extra time for your journey, given that Manchester City, who are also based at the Etihad Campus, are at home on Saturday the 17th of October.

But how much does it cost to get in?

Sadly it appears that concessionary tickets are not for sale for this event, but given that the crème de la crème of the Taekwondo world are performing, we do not think that adult tickets priced from £10 upwards will leave a noticeable dent in your student loan. Standard adult tickets are available at £10 for Session One on the Saturday afternoon, with other sessions available and costing marginally more with standard seating. Group and weekend passes are also available, with a full price listed on the official event website here.

What are the facilities like? 

Housed next to the 55,000 seater Etihad Stadium, the Manchester Regional Arena has been developed and modified since its original use in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. As well the indoor athletics hall and modern sporting facilities where the Grand Prix will be held, the outdoor stadium attached to the venue is regularly used by local schools and societies for both educational and community events. The stadium itself, which holds up to 6,500 spectators, was previously the former home of the Manchester City reserve football team shortly after it was altered from its original state as the official warm up track for the 2002 games.

Tell me something I didn’t already know…

Unless you’re an active follower of competitions and events in the Taekwondo calendar, or perhaps somebody with an interest in the sport, it’s highly likely that there is very little you do actually know about the sport (myself included). Therefore it’s worth noting that at the upcoming Grand Prix, there will be at least 8 different Olympic gold-medal-winning individuals competing, including two time Olympic Champion Steven Lopez of the USA and British athlete Jade Jones, who reigned supreme in London 2012, winning the gold medal in the 57kg division. With regards to a wider view of the sport, the World Taekwondo Foundation are unable to say where in the world the sport is at its most popular, but suggest that there is a high demand for the sport in Iran, Mexico, Canada, China, USA, the United Kingdom and of course Korea.

Finally, when can I see this in action?

The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix takes place between Friday the 16th and Sunday the 18th of October from 9am – 10pm on both Friday and Saturday and until 8pm on the final day of action. For more information please visit: http://taekwondogp.com

If you have any requests for local teams, sports or events taking place in Manchester, or if you wish to be involved, please contact: [email protected].

Dark lipstick: Purple is the new black

Wearing dark lipstick shouldn’t be reserved for just Hallowe’en; you can rock dark colours no matter your skin tone. Don’t be scared—dark doesn’t have to mean black! We have some great lipstick picks that you can show off this Hallowe’en.

First up, we’ve got Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in ‘Va Va Violet’.

Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in ‘Va Va Violet’
Photo: Superdrug

This is a great all-nighter lipstick, so you won’t have to worry about topping up too much. This lipstick is perfect for darker skin tones, paired with some gentle contouring and simple eye make-up.

You can grab this for just £7.99 in Superdrug, and with 3 for 2 on lipsticks, why not jump on the lippy bandwagon?

TOP TIP: To check how a lipstick colour will look on you, use the skin in between your thumb and palm to test. This will be a closer match to your face than using the back of your hand.

 

Next up is Mac’s Heroine Lipstick.

MAC’s Heroine
Photo: Selfridges

This is fab for that extra oomph in your autumn makeup, with the purple shade especially matching with pale tones. This dark lipstick can speak for itself; just a few coats of mascara will be more than enough of a supporting act for this number.

Get down to Selfridges and grab this must-have for just £15.50.

TOP TIP: Try outlining the Cupid’s bow with a white lip liner to add ‘two tone’ to your lips.

 

Barry M’s Burgundy Lip Stain is a great date choice.

Barry M’s Burgundy Lip Stain
Photo: Boots

Have as many drinks as you like and not worry about your lippy disappearing. This pick is great for people with dark eyes, to further unleash the colour. Team up with burgundy nails and you’re good to go.

At only £4.49 from Boots, you can’t deny it’s an essential this season.

Treat yourself to both the nail colour and lipstick for £7.00 with Boots offers.

TOP TIP: Why not try using a slightly darker lip liner to accentuate your lips.

 

Our next contender, Rimmel Kate Lipstick in ‘107’, is great for most skin tones.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in ‘107’
Photo: Superdrug

It is the perfect shade and formula for all year round. Try to mix this up by experimenting with different lip pencils for fill-in and outline. For a stand-out dark lip, try a dark purple outline filled in with this dark red.

A great buy for a superb look at only £5.49 from Superdrug.

TOP TIP: Make sure you blot glossier lipsticks so you don’t get unnecessary shine.

 

And finally, how could we do Hallowe’en right without the classic Black – Barry M’s Lip Paint in ‘Black’.

Barry M
Photo: Superdrug

Even if it’s just for one night, use Hallowe’en as an excuse to whack out those dark smackers.

Experimenting seems reasonable for only £4.49 from Superdrug. Barry M’s Lip Paint in ‘Black’ is a unique addition to your makeup box.

TOP TIP: Always outline and fill in the lips with lip liner to make a dark colour last for longer.