Nike Honours Marcus Rashford's Birthday with Button Lane Football Pitch

To coincide with his 24th birthday and a new multi-year partnership with Nike – Marcus Rashford has unveiled a new football pitch at his former primary school, Button Lane in Whythenshaw, South Manchester on November 3rd. A continuation of an existing relationship that has been in place since he was 11 years old, the partnership will see both Marcus and Nike embark on a long-term journey to help children overcome barriers and create pathways to success through the power of sport. The opening of the football pitch will serve as the ignition point in a more sustained journey over the course of the next few years, to enable youth to actualise their full potential.

Marcus Rashford: “It’s important that any community initiative I embark on begins where it all started for me, South Manchester. In communities like Wythenshawe, at schools like Button Lane where a high proportion of children are on free school meals and budgets are small, it feels great to be able to give so many something to smile about. To bring everyone together. To remind these children that I had a dream once and that dream came true. I’m excited to build upon today with NIKE and have no doubts that together we can make a real difference.”

R/GA led the creative & shoot for the Nike x Marcus Rashford 5 year partnership announcement. The partnership was launched at the place where it all started for him: Button Lane Primary school.

R/GA created a massive mural on a wall in the playground to mark the moment, the wall is interactive; kids/parents can scan parts of the wall to open recorded messages direct from Marcus to the kid, giving them personal and inspirational messages about how he was once where they are now, and how they can achieve their dreams in life too.

Marcus Rashford is the embodiment of a modern-day role model, an athlete who uses his platform to advocate for the rights of young people in the UK. Through his platform as an athlete, he has actioned real change, impacting the lives of millions of children across the UK for the better.