MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand and his wife Kate took a ‘special’ trip to Ireland last week.
The couple came to Sligo – along with Kate’s Irish grandmother – to launch a new community project.
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) and the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) teamed up to deliver the match day experience hosted at Sligo Rovers, The Showgrounds.
The ‘Beyond the Ball’ match day seeks to develop lasting cross-border relationships, providing opportunities for young people from border communities to come together, learn new skills and be supported to succeed.
Cheering on the teams were a host of dignitaries from Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986, delivering a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across the southern border counties and Northern Ireland.
However, the trip wasn’t all to do with their project as Kate showed when she shared an insight into the luxury holiday side of things on TikTok.
The couple sank pints of Guinness in a gorgeous hotel while Kate narrated over a video of them and her granny getting pampered.
Kate said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever been to Ireland with her. It was such a special trip.
“It was so great to see the work that the Foundation are doing and we got to go on Ireland AM which was really fun.”
Kate hailed ‘the lovely girls’ she met that were apart of the ‘Beyond the Ball’ campaign while Rio got hounded by many many football fans.
Although Rio wasn’t the main character on show as Kate revealed that “Grandma was the biggest celeb of everyone”.
Kate finished off the video by saying that they cannot wait to return to Ireland.
Kate and her granny cheered on Rio as he took charge of one of the teams in the match with Westlife front man and Sligo Rovers F.C. superfan Shane Filan the opposing manager.
Thirty-two young people walked out on the pitch on matchday, unsuspecting of the day’s magnitude, with organisers keeping the details of attendees firmly under wraps.
A further 300 young people, their families, and youth workers from eight counties across the island of Ireland were transported to The Showgrounds to support from the stands and take part in activities in the grounds during the day.
The ‘Beyond the Ball’ matchday was supported by former Northern Ireland International footballer Gerry Armstrong, and equality and social justice advocate Paul Canoville, the first black player to play for Chelsea FC.
Female players also joined a women’s empowerment session with Kate, Linfield Captain Ashley Hutton, and home team Sligo Rovers star Emma Hansberry.