Michael Carrick Foundation Golf Day: An amazing event for a fantastic cause

Michael Carrick Foundation Golf Day: Michael Carrick's team consisting of Jonathan Woodgate, Andrew Cole & Liam Fray

Michael Carrick held his annual golf day for the Michael Carrick Foundation at Prestbury Golf Club, sponsored by Clubhouse Golf – The UK’s No.1 Golf Retailer

Michael Carrick is most well-known for his successful career as a professional footballer. He played the majority of his career under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and represented England on 34 occasions.

As Michael’s playing career was coming to an end, in 2017 he founded the Michael Carrick Foundation – a means of creating empowering opportunities where disadvantaged young people from across Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear feel safe, valued, and inspired to achieve their full potential.

Since retiring from football in 2018, Michael has dedicated a lot of time and effort to his foundation. He continues to do so alongside his Managerial career, where he currently manages Championship side Middlesbrough.

Michael said, “I was always keen on trying to give something back at some stage, I started the foundation to help young people who are disadvantaged and underprivileged in Manchester and Newcastle, where I grew up and where I spent most of my footballing career.”

Manchester and Newcastle are two areas of the country that are very close to Michael. In both locations, the foundation works with local community organizations and uses the power of sport to engage with hundreds of children every year.

By delivering programs, executing community campaigns, and offering volunteering and training opportunities, the Michael Carrick Foundation does so much for so many people in need.

“We try and help them in any way we can, we just want them to know we’re there to help them and look after them, something I was fortunate to have at Wallsend Boys Club.

“Wallsend Boys Club was a big part of my childhood; I was there all of the time. It was a safe environment to go and hang out with my mates and football was a part of it”, said Carrick.

Away from the pitch, Michael started Carricks’ Boot Room back in 2018 for people to donate football boots and Astroturf trainers they either no longer need or have outgrown. These are then passed on to those who need them so they can participate with the correct equipment.

As well as Carrick’s Boot Room, the Michael Carrick Foundation also delivers Carrick’s Back to School Packs to children transitioning from primary to secondary school. The packs include the essentials every child needs.

By hosting events such as this golf day, Michael is able to raise funds and awareness for the Michael Carrick Foundation which is vital in enabling the foundation to carry out their amazing work.

The event was held at the stunning Prestbury Golf Club in the heart of Cheshire, where Michael has been a member for the last five years, and this is the fourth year the golf day has been held at his home course.

“Prestbury as a golf club has been so accommodating and the service they’ve given has been unbelievable and everyone always comments on it every single year saying how good the golf day is, so we’re lucky to be able to host it here,” said Michael.

You could see that everyone was enjoying the day – the warm weather definitely helped. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and everybody was happy to be there to help raise funds for such a brilliant foundation and play golf around an incredible course.

There were 87 participants on the day with many more arriving for the evening, all there to help raise money for the Michael Carrick Foundation. The scoring on the day was Stableford, with the best two scores from each group going towards the team competition.

Team Sunbridge won the team competition with 85 points. This was the team of former West Ham United midfielder, John Moncur – he had the lowest round of the day, a level par 71. Sadly, this just wasn’t enough to win the individual competition, missing out by one point to Ciaran Donnelly of the Manchester United Foundation.

Arguably the star of the day was ex-Norwich City and Scotland goalkeeper, Bryan Gunn, he was the announcer on hole 7, a par 3 next to the halfway house. Bryan was keeping spirits high in the blistering heat with stories of his footballing days and comical anecdotes.

Clubhouse Golf, The UK’s No.1 Golf Retailer was the lead sponsor of the day. Their Head of Brand, Nick Oram, who was in attendance on the day said, “Over time we’ve built a strong relationship with Michael, so when it came to the foundation’s golf day here at Prestbury Golf Club, it made sense to be a part of the day.

“Being able to support such a great charity through sponsorship of the event meant that not only could we assist the foundation, but also, it was an opportunity for us to give visibility to our brand and highlight the strength of our business within the golf industry.

“We’re a family-run business and being able to give back to help people on their journey through sport is massively important to us.”

Michael had a lot of praise for Clubhouse Golf and the support they have given him and the Michael Carrick Foundation. He said, “They’ve been a massive help for this one and hopefully it’s the start of working together for a longer period.”

There was an amazing family feel to the day with Michael’s parents Vince and Lynn Carrick in attendance, along with his wife and Vice Chair of the Michael Carrick Foundation, Lisa Carrick.

The Michael Carrick Foundation is fully committed to helping children who need support and providing them with as many opportunities as possible that they may not have had access to without the foundation.

Lots of funds were raised and loads of fun was had – what more could you want from a golf day?  

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