London - Arab Today
Former Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson combined his love for golf with an opportunity to help active and retired Royal Welsh servicemen
. A number of items related to his last year at the helm of the club – including his seven-seater SUV Chevrolet Captiva – were sold at auction at the Sir Alex Ferguson Golf Classic event on 5 July at the Belfry, a location synonymous with golf.
Apart from a number of other items, a one-off signed portrait of the Scotsman and a piece of footballing history – the handwritten final retirement statement drafted by Sir Alex – were also auctioned.
The proceeds from the event were donated to The Royal Welsh Benevolence Fund that provides much needed support to serving and retired Royal Welsh Officers and Soldiers.
Sir Alex retired from football management at the end of last season. His replacement, fellow Scotsman David Moyes, reported for his first day of work on July 1. Moyes, driving his black Chevrolet Captiva LTZ 2.2 VCDi, was welcomed at the club’s training ground, the Aon Training Complex, by a substantial group of journalists and photographers.
Chevrolet has been the Manchester United Official Automotive Sponsor since 2012. The partnership is set to be further cemented when Chevrolet becomes the club’s shirt sponsor starting in the 2014/5 season.
The first season of the partnership ended with Manchester United winning a record 20th league title, a successful run which Chevrolet believes will continue in the Moyes era.
Pre-season will see Manchester United play in a number of friendlies. Moyes’ first ever game in charge of the Red Devils was in Bangkok against Singha All Stars in front of a sell-out 48,000 crowd on July 13. Their summer tour will see them play in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.
Moyes’ first competitive game in charge will be against Championship side Wigan in the FA Community Shield on August 11. A week later, the Premier League kicks off in earnest, with Manchester United playing Swansea away.
Chevrolet has furthered its commitment to football worldwide by signing a three-year deal with the United States Soccer Federation, which includes the men’s, women’s, youth and Olympic teams.
“As fans well know, soccer is much more than the world’s favourite sport: it’s a communal experience and way of life,” said Molly Peck, director of Chevrolet Advertising and Sales Promotions.
The deal further widens Chevrolet’s commitment to football, which also includes being a founding member of One World Futbol.
Through the sponsorship of One World Futbol Project, Chevrolet is donating 1.5 million virtually indestructible One World Futbols to youth in war-stricken zones, refugee camps, disaster areas, and underprivileged communities around the world.