Marcus Rashford’s coaches pick up top award for their contribution

“We’re just so proud of him,” commented Mulvey, who washis head coach of the foundation phase at United. “It’s nice for these awards to come out but our reward, as coaches, is to help him wherever we can and see him develop into such a wonderful young man.”

Whelan, United’s Academy programme adviser, recently won the Premier League’s Eamonn Dolan award for his outstanding contribution to youth coaching. He added: “For me, and I’m sure the other people in the chain, on his life’s journey, he happened to bump into us and what a privilege and honour that has been. If it was felt I helped him keep his love of the game burning, when he crossed my path, I would be deeply humbled by that.”

Maria Kelly was part of Marcus’s host family when he was aged between 12 and 17, and said: “I’m a bit overwhelmed. There were a few years where he struggled, he didn’t grow at the same rate as the other kids, so he was the little one and there were lots of questions [about him]. I’m incredibly proud that he didn’t give up; he kept going and he’s made such a positive impact on so many people’s lives.”