Who Am I?
Marcus Rashford, born in Manchester in 1997, is of Jamaican and Kittitian descent. He comes from a working-class family, with his mother, Melanie Maynard, often having worked multiple jobs to support their family. Rashford and his four older siblings experienced child poverty and had to go without food many times. The family often turned to food banks and depended on the generosity of others to put food on the table, something that Marcus is grateful for. He has reciprocated this generosity through his work with FareShare.
From the age of 5, Marcus played football, starting as the goalkeeper for Fletcher Moss Rangers, where they recognised that he stood out amongst the team. A lifelong Manchester United Fan, he joined the Manchester United academy at 7 years old and attended their Ashton-on-Mersey School. He trained and worked hard, and by age 11, he was the youngest person to be selected for the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholar Scheme. He then studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Sport.
What Am I Known For?
When Rashford joined the under-15 Manchester United Squad, he was quickly named as their best prospect. He scored the only goal in the Manchester derby, his team’s first away league win against Manchester City since 2012, becoming the youngest Premier League scorer in that fixture at 18 years and 141 days, overtaking Wayne Rooney’s record by nearly a year.
Rashford, the youngest English player to score in his first senior international match, made his professional debut in May 2016. He has since appeared in two UEFA European Championships, including the final, as England finished runners-up to Italy in 2020. He also represented England at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the UEFA Euro 2020 (which took place in 2021) tournament.
He has used his platform for compassionate activism, campaigning against racism, homelessness, and child hunger. Recognised by organisations both within and outside sports, he was the subject of a mural by street artist Akse in Withington.
Rashford has worked closely with the FareShare organisation and helped raise enough money to provide over 21 million meals for children and families who might otherwise have had nothing to eat.
His #MakeTheUTurn campaign successfully influenced government policy, extending the voucher scheme for free school meals during lockdown, ensuring 1.3 million vulnerable children continued to have access to food.
Marcus runs a Book Club for Children who may not have access to books and has published his own book titled ‘You Are A Champion’. He wrote the book to inspire children to be the best that they can possibly be and to motivate them to work hard and believe that their dreams can come true despite the challenges they face.
How About You?
Marcus has used his perseverance to enable 1.3 million vulnerable children to access food. What could you use your perseverance for?
Marcus used adaptability to overcome many injuries in his athletic career, finding ways to maintain his form as a footballer when traditional training was not possible for him. How could you use your adaptability at school?
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
Check out the inspiring stories of Abebe Bikila, Lily Parr and Jesse Owens to find out more about other key figures in sports and pioneers of diversity.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
Some other Amazing Black Britons are featured in our Diverse Voices resource.
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