Reds reunited to launch new community pitch

Ryan Giggs joins kids enjoying a kick-about at the new Cruyff Court

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

CROWDS still flock to see Ryan Giggs.

He is strolling through Peel Park, easing past kids in football kits as deftly as he used to slalom past defenders.

The kids who have risen early on their Saturday morning have a new pitch to play on, named the Cruyff Court. Johan's son, Jordi, has flown in from Barcelona to open it with his old team-mates.

It was during Johan's time in the United States that he noticed a neighbour's child with Down's syndrome was watching other children playing soccer on the street.

Johan approached the boy and started to play with him. When Cruyff returned from a string of far-flung away matches, Cruyff discovered the boy was now playing with the other children.

A 25-minute drive away from the Cliff training ground where Jordi used to marvel at Eric Cantona's volleying technique, the Cruyff Foundation and 92 Foundation have gifted a five-a-side pitch to young Salfordians.

Johan's 14 rules are listed next to one of the orange-framed goals and an orange ribbon is cut to signal the opening of the pitch. "We never had something like this," Giggs says. "If we had something like this, we could meet up and have a proper game.