Marcus Rashford is a household name, whether that be for his exploits on the football pitch or for his inspirational work off of it. What you may not know about the Manchester United star is that his original dream was to be the man stopping goals, rather than scoring them.
Born in Manchester on 31 October 1997, Rashford comes from a working-class background and is the youngest of five children, with two older brothers and two sisters. His mother, Melanie Maynard, was a single parent and often skipped meals herself so that her children would eat – a driving force behind the England international’s work away from football.
Growing up in Wythenshawe, he started playing football with his friends in the local parks and school grounds. His natural talent and passion for the sport quickly became apparent, and at the age of five, he joined Fletcher Moss Rangers, a youth football club known for nurturing young talents with the likes of Wes Brown and Jesse Lingard.
Goalkeeping Aspirations
You would think a footballer that has demonstrated such a keen eye for goal would have been scoring goals from the moment he could walk, but that wasn’t the case for Rashford. In his formative years, former Man United goalkeeper Tim Howard was his idol and during his first season at Fletcher Moss Rangers Rashford played in goal.
It wouldn’t be too long, though, before Rashford began to demonstrate his natural flair and ability with the ball at his feet as opposed to in his hands. Dave Horrocks, academy development officer for the grassroots club, played a pivotal role in Rashford’s progress during his grassroots football career and often speaks with pride about his former player.
He was quoted as saying during an interview with the I Newspaper: “He was a very quiet kid. Even now, you will struggle to get a conversation out of him. The last time I spoke to him he was doing a promotional thing at Merseybank playing field and he said to me ‘do you remember me chipping you from the halfway line?’
“And I said, ‘is that all you can remember about me? Do you not remember me taking you home after football?’ He said, ‘never mind that I still beat you from the halfway line’.”
The Theatre of Dreams
Rashford grew up in a family divided between the red and blue halves of Manchester. Though he has always been a lifelong red, he did briefly flirt with the blue side as he trained for a week at Manchester City. That didn’t last, however, as soon after he joined Man United’s academy aged seven.
The youngster also ignored interest from Merseyside, with both Liverpool and Everton keen to bring the future star into their academies. Rashford credits his brothers for helping him to choose the Old Trafford club.
Youth coach Paul McGuinness, who has played a key role in bringing through many of Man United’s homegrown talent, was taken aback by Rashford’s athleticism. When the young Rashford would miss training sessions because his mum was unable to get him there and back due to work, McGuinness and coaches Dave Bushell, Eamon Mulvey, and Tony Whelan made sure that transport was available for the promising youngster.
In 2012, Rashford was part of the Man United Under-15 team that finished second in the annual Marveld tournament and was named by the Guardian as the club’s best prospect in 2014.
Breaking Through
In February 2016, an injury crisis at Man United created an unexpected opportunity for Rashford. Manager Louis van Gaal called upon the 18-year-old striker to make his professional debut in a Europa League match against FC Midtjylland.
Rashford grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring two goals and sealing a remarkable 5-1 victory. This impressive debut propelled him into the spotlight and marked the beginning of his meteoric rise in professional football.
Since his debut, Rashford has become an integral player for both club and country, consistently delivering impressive performances and displaying versatility across the front line. His speed, skill, and clinical finishing have made him a nightmare for defenders.
Additionally, off the field, Rashford has become a prominent advocate for social change, using his platform to raise awareness and support for issues such as child poverty and access to education. His impact both on and off the field serves as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers worldwide, highlighting the possibilities that can arise from nurturing grassroots talent.
By Aaron Gratton
