Marcus Rashford is a man with a goal—to make the world a better place. He recently constructed a brand-new football field at his alma college to inspire future football stars.

Marcus Rashford is going back to the crime site. Marcus Rashford of Manchester United has impacted the country since 2016 with his literacy and food insecurity projects, which have benefited millions of young people. He is paying it forward to the organization that influenced his life with his most recent endeavor.

There is no denying the children at Button Lane Primary School’s passion for Rashford. On a gloomy fall day, the playground is cheered with a brand-new mural encouraging kids to dream, featuring Marcus at its heart, and hand-drawn pictures adorn the gates.

Rashford and Button Lane are smitten with one another. MR10 has returned to his alma institution to unveil a brand-new football pitch in honor of the start of his new multi-year partnership with Nike and his 24th birthday, providing current and future students a greater chance to follow in his footsteps.

Someone who is driven by civic pride might believe they have completed the circle. The day ‘the people’s PM’ made his way back to Wythenshawe, we had a one-on-one interview with him. We discussed his new partnership with Nike, the value of giving young people access to football, and how his desire to make the world a better place began when he was only 10 years old.

VERSUS: At your alma mater, you just unveiled a brand-new football field. How did the idea for this Button Lane development originate to you?

Rashford, Marcus Many of these concepts have been in my head for a very long time; I was just waiting for the right moment to put them into action. Although we have a lot of aspirations for the future, achieving them will take time and careful planning. Giving the kids access to this facility today feels incredible, and I hope they use and appreciate it for many years to come.

How important were football fields like this one to you growing up, and what advantages do they offer to children in this neighborhood like you?

For any child who appreciates football, having a lovely field to play on is important. You wouldn’t refuse the chance to compete on a field used by professionals, would you? I used to play football pretty much wherever when I was younger, regardless of the surface. On rare occasions, I would stumble into a website with a strong pitch, but you weren’t always authorized to utilize it. Because access has been a problem for a while, I wanted to create something that students could use at school without any restrictions.

I believe there is now a role model for young people in the area who want to pursue careers as football players or athletics. The United Academy experience I had as a child was everything…I was able to continuously see players that came before me who were successful. They demonstrate to me what life was like at the height of achievement.

I used to play for fun when I initially started, but I got to meet people who started out similarly to me and rose to the top at an academy. They set an example for you to follow, and I’m hoping that the students here will be able to do the same.

I’ve always thought that folks who are having a hard time should be given the chance to become better.