Salford City FC has celebrated the role of Greater Manchester's small businesses in the local football community with a special event at the Peninsula Stadium. The occasion, sponsored by the club's official accounting software partner Sage, included a behind-the-scenes stadium tour and a festive meal for attendees. It highlighted the vital contribution independent traders make to the matchday experience and regional economy, particularly ahead of the key festive trading period.

Sally Moore, Sage's Senior Director of Global Sponsorship, emphasised that Christmas celebrations for many families rely on the success of these local enterprises. The event was hosted by Sky Sports presenter David Prutton and featured contributions from Salford City co-owner Gary Neville, alongside players Joe Powell and Paolo Mariani. Their presence showed the club's commitment to its community roots, even as the first team enjoys a successful spell on the pitch. Salford City currently sit top of League Two, having taken 28 points from 13 games and riding a four-match winning streak. The team's recent form reads four wins and a draw from their last five matches, a run that includes a 4-2 victory at Walsall on Monday 26 October.

Sage's Secret Santa competition

As part of the wider celebration, Sage has launched a nationwide Secret Santa competition offering a £100,000 prize. The initiative, which began on 2nd November, invites supporters from all 72 EFL clubs to nominate a deserving local business in their area for the substantial award. This competition extends the spirit of the Salford event across the country, with similar celebrations scheduled at AFC Wimbledon on 3 November and Middlesbrough FC on 5 November.

For Salford City, this community engagement comes during a period of strong sporting momentum. The team's last outing was a 4-2 away victory at Walsall, a result that maintained their three-point lead at the summit. The victory was sealed with a goal in the 90th minute. Attention now turns back to league action, with an important home fixture against eighth-placed Exeter City scheduled for Saturday 31 October at 15:00. Fans can view the full fixtures list as the club looks to continue its impressive form, which has seen them score 23 goals so far this campaign.

First reported at manchestereveningnews.co.uk