Manchester City F.C. (Sierra Leone), known as just Manchester City F.C. or Manchester City (
Salone
Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...
) in their home country, is a Sierra Leonean
soccer, football club based in
Freetown,
Sierra Leone, currently a member of the
Sierra Leone National First Division, the second highest division of football league in Sierra Leone.
Founded in 2004, the club is an offshoot of the local
Manchester City F.C. supporters club, which as of 2009 was the largest non-UK based Manchester City supporters club in the world. Previously not self-sufficient, the club funds itself via using the team mini-bus, donated by UK-based supporters,
as a rental taxi/coach service although all kit is donated by other Manchester City (UK) supporters clubs and the English club themselves. Their kit features Manchester City F.C’s main sponsor, Etihad Airways.
History
Following a chance meeting with a British national Manchester City fan, Armani Kamara – who made the connection while selling bric-a-brac on the Freetown beaches – created a Manchester City (UK) supporters club in his home town of Freetown. Shortly after, off the back of the popularity of his supporters club, he made the decision to create two teams – a senior team and an affiliated youth side – which began playing in local leagues. Quickly, the
Manchester side themselves offered to help out, and donated official match-worn
2003–04 season kits. Within a year, the youth side won its first competition, a local area cup competition.
In 2008, the club won its first national honour – the
Sierra Leonean FA Youth Cup, only four seasons into its existence.
The senior team slowly worked its way into the national league system. They would then be suspended for failure to appear at their away games; the club was unable to finance away games and could only make it to those games within walking distance. An appeal was lodged with the British club, and appeals to others to support their predicament. Club legend
Paul Lake
Paul Andrew Lake (born 28 October 1968) is an English former professional footballer who played for Manchester City and represented England at under-21 and B team level.
He had an excellent early career with Manchester City, winning the FA ...
spearheaded a campaign to have the public provide what was needed. Among the donations were: a
Toyota Coaster mini-bus, equipment, uniforms and textbooks. The club took advantage of the vehicle to raise income by hiring it out to the public when not needed by the team.
Honours
Cups
*
Sierra Leonean FA Youth Cup
** Winners (1): 2008
References
External links
*
RSSSF info
{{Manchester City F.C.
Football clubs in Sierra Leone
Sport in Freetown
Manchester City F.C.