Manchester City star Raheem Sterling, who enjoyed three productive years with Liverpool before moving to the Etihad in 2015, grew up a supporter of a different northwest England club. It was actually Manchester United, the chief rival of both the aforementioned clubs that the Jamaican born English international supported during his childhood.
Ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Watford, Sterling admitted he grew up a Red Devils fan, and he was at the 2007 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, where he saw MUFC fall to Chelsea. Sterling got his ticket via courtesy of gift from his school, and that memorable experience inspired Sterling to give back 12 years later.
For Man City’s semi-final win over Brighton & Hove Albion, Raheem Sterling gifted 550 tickets to kids who attended his former school.
“I was at the final in 2007,” the winger told the Daily Mirror.
“I shouldn’t really say this — not now, definitely not now! — but when I was young I was a massive United fan. I had an old United kit, from when they won the last FA Cup.”
“To be in the stadium… it was incredible. It was unbelievable and that was when I tried to give the tickets to the school. That was motivated by that — being so close to the stadium and not going there more than once.
“If two or three of the kids could be inspired, then that’s all I was trying to do. Purely, that’s how I felt at the time.
“If there was a kid who had a chance of being a footballer, hopefully that will give them motivation or inspiration to change their dreams.”
Should City on Saturday, they will become the first English team to ever accomplish a domestic treble.
Manchester City vs Watford FC FA Cup Final FYIs
Kickoff- Saturday May 18, Wembley Stadium 5pm
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Referee: Kevin Friend
VAR: Andre Marriner
Prediction: Manchester City 2, Watford FC 1
No, the unprecedented quadruple didn’t happen, but at least City will become the second team in Manchester to accomplish a treble. 2018-19 Manchester City is a club that will be talked about for ages.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.