Marcus Rashford: Celebrating Black Excellence In Sports And Activism

by Duke Magazine

One people. One voice. Football is a universal language uniting and spreading cheer to people from across the globe regardless of race, age, sex or even language and effortlessly making lingering memories that last a lifetime. Notably, in the world of sports, exceptional talents have graced the fields for decades and today we  celebrate one of such talents, Man United star Marcus Rashford!

Marcus Rashford MBE (born 31 October 1997) is an English professional footballer. He plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.

Applaudably, even far beyond being a force on field, the English Footballer has also made a name for himself as an active social campaigner, lending his supporting noteworthy causes including campaigning against homelessness, fostering children’s literacy across the UK – picture recently announced partnership with @WHSmith and @Literacy_Trust as well as supporting vulnerable children and fighting child hunger through his campaign ‘End Child Food Poverty.’

Last June, Rashford raised around £ 20 million with FareShare, the largest charity fighting hunger and food waste in the UK, to supply around 3 million meals to underprivileged children. He also went further to write to MPs as well as Prime Minister Johnson. A proud activist, Marcus Rashford is passionate about change and contributing his own quota every step of the way and this, has well deservedly earned him praise and acclaim across the globe.

Not for show; His love for charity can be clearly traced back to his roots: ever passionate, even while starting out as a youth, during his first training with Manchester United, together with his mom, he visited homeless shelters where he gave back with the little he had in order to make life better for others.

In October 2019, Rashford set up the In the Box campaign with Selfridges to give homeless people essential items over Christmas.

In 2020 Marcus Rashford was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to vulnerable children in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. This was as part of the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours. The English international successfully lobbied the Government into a U-turn over its free school meals policy during lockdown, ensuring children in need would receive meals across the summer.

Right from age 7, the talented forward had made his debut as 

a Manchester United player, notably scoring two goals on both his first-team debut against Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League in February 2016 and his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later. He also made impressive performances at his first Manchester derby, as well as on his EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League debuts. 

With United, Rashford has so far won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield and Europa League.

In 2016, the 23 year old made history when he scored on his England debut, becoming the youngest English player to score in his first senior international match. He played at the UEFA Euro 2016 as the tournament’s youngest player, and also represented England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Born 31 October 1997 and raised in the Wythenshawe area of south Manchester, England, he studied for a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) National Diploma in Sport.

Marcus Rashford has garnered an impressive list of awards and accolades including:

PFA Merit Award: 2020

FIFA Foundation Award: 2020

The Guardian Footballer of the Year: 2020

FWA Tribute Award: 2020

FIFPro Merit Award: 2020

Time 100 Next: 2021

Orders and special awards

Member of the Order of the British Empire: 2020

Campaigner Of The Year in the 2020 GQ Men Of The Year among others.

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