Friday 29 April 2016 10:23, UK
School children invited to Manchester United's Aon Training Complex in Carrington had a day to remember when the entire first-team squad joined them for an afternoon of activities.
It was always going to be a memorable experience as they were told they were going to meet the club's Foundation coaches for the afternoon.
What they did not know, however, was that the United players would also be on hand at the event straight after training ahead of the weekend game with Leicester City, live on Super Sunday.
The club's Foundation has been in operation for almost a decade and has established a programme called '#Schoolsunited' involving 13 partner schools around Greater Manchester.
"We work in some of the most disadvantaged areas and, for some of them, Old Trafford is a dream, to even get to see a game, but to actually come and mix and engage with the first-team players is something they dream about," said hub manager Dave Chapman.
"Every child within this room now, every student, every participant has earned the right to be here. We've got some children here who wouldn't speak to anybody, their confidence was shot, they were so low.
"And then a year or two into our partnership they're here mixing with people from the other side of Manchester."
The children from each of the schools were partnered with a member of Louis Van Gaal's squad for the afternoon.
And while the likes of captain Wayne Rooney and birthday boy Juan Mata have made their name on Old Trafford's hallowed turf, this was an opportunity to see them doing something different, from playing table tennis to answering tricky questions from potential young journalists in a specially designed interview booth.
One of the victims up for interview was midfielder Ander Herrera.
"Of course, of course because sometimes they are so sincere," he said. "That's why sometimes they make us feel a little bit in a problem but it's very nice to answer questions because they are all fans, they are the future of Manchester United."
The Foundation's work is not just limited to working with schools, however, as the players soon discovered.
While Manchester United's focus on the pitch is a top four finish in the Premier League and a first FA Cup final win since 2004, what about what the players do and eat when they are not playing or training?
'Something to chew on' is a 10-week programme designed to educate youngsters about being healthy in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates.
They are taught how to choose, cook and eat safe and healthy food, the sort of thing Manchester United's superstars take for granted at Carrington, unless they have to make their sandwiches themselves, as Herrera discovered.
"I am the one who has to cook for the children today," he said. "I am not so good at cooking so I will try to do my best but I think we have to teach them to eat in a good way. I think it's very important for their health, for their lives and I will try to do my best!"
It is not just about diet and nutrition as the Foundation is also looking at how to bolster the confidence of primary school children in the north west between the ages of four and eight.
'Move with Manchester United' has been devised to help improve their agility, balance and co-ordination in a bid to counter a growing trend that sees less youngsters playing outdoors.
Herrera and his team-mates got involved in a session of jumping, balance and throwing, but how hard is it getting to grips with new training regimes for Manchester United players themselves and who are the worst trainers?
"I cannot say names about that but the only thing I can say is that it's very important to do sport," the Spaniard said.
"Nowadays we are living in a generation of computers and video games but I think that it's more healthy when you play football and you train, you make friends and that's what we try to do, to convince them that sport is very important."
After a tricky season that still has the potential to be a successful one for Manchester United, this was an afternoon where the players were able to put the scrutiny to one side.
While it is the young players who have captured the eye on many occasions, plenty of their more experienced team-mates are parents themselves and literally jumped, ran and threw themselves into the activities.
But it is their status as footballers that made it such a special occasion for the children invited to Carrington, and a big game beckons at the weekend, with Leicester, not Manchester United, in with a chance of being crowned Premier League champions at Old Trafford - something that only happened three times under Sir Alex Ferguson.
"First of all I have to say that we think about Manchester United, we are still in the race, we have to be in the top four it's very important for us," Herrera said.
"After that it is true that we are playing against Leicester, a very good side who are playing fantastic. But we don't want them to win the title at Old Trafford - I think they deserve to win the league but I hope they can do it at home.
"We are Manchester United and we have to win because we have to be in the Champions League next season. Leicester can win the league at Old Trafford but it is not our business. Our business is Manchester United, we have to fight until the end for the top four and that's what we are going to do.
"After that if Leicester wants to win the league at home they will have to play very good because I think we are in a good moment."
The Manchester United Foundation is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. In the past year it has reached almost 10,000 school children and has seen 587 of them gain qualifications.
As the United players bade farewell to the youngsters at the Academy's indoor training centre, there is another landmark that beckons next month.
It is almost 12 years since Manchester United last won the FA Cup and from the current squad only Juan Mata has lifted the trophy, and that was with Chelsea. So, like the children who enjoyed a big surprise at Carrington, they are hoping it will be a day to remember at Wembley on Saturday, May 21.
