The Manchester United winger showed up at his old youth side on Friday night to hand out club branded jackets and sign autographs

Jesse Lingard has given his former junior side Fletcher Moss a helping hand by shelling out for a new kit. 

Lingard is one of several Manchester United players past and present to have graduated from Fletcher Moss over the years. 

Marcus Rashford is the latest young talent to come off a conveyor belt that has also produced Wes Brown and Tyler Blackett. 

Coaches at the club had reached out to Lingard for a signed shirt in order to raise money towards new training gear. 

But they were shocked when he offered to pay for 13 Fletcher Moss branded jackets and a set of full kits for the Under-11s side out of his own pocket. 

Lingard was at Whalley Range 11-18 High School on Friday night to hand out the jackets, sign autographs and have a kick around with dozens of young hopefuls - one of which asked him why he "played so badly in the derby." 

The winger laughed off the question but was keen to offer some advice to the youngsters. 


"It's good to give back I think, that's the most important thing," Lingard said.

"They look to players like me and Marcus and others players at United who have come through the system and obviously they aspire to be like us and make it. 

"In every kid's heart that's what they want to do. 

"Clubs like this don't get an awful lot of help, they've been asking for us to come down and do something. I'm here today and it's really good to see how many people have come out. This is where it started, all the hard work and dedication starts here." 

Mark Gaynord, a coach at Fletcher Moss, praised Lingard for donating both his time and money.

"It's a very proud moment for the club and the kids," said Gaynord. "It shows the kids it's there for them at grassroots. This lad just turning up for us. It'll give these kids a big boost to work hard and be hungry for football.

"Not only have we got the lad who scored the winner in the FA Cup final but Rashford who scores goals for fun. It's just showing the kids what we can produce if they work hard. 

"These lads were the hard workers." 

He added: "It's the thought that counts but it's more him turning up to give these kids the inspiration."