EXCLUSIVE: An inking of a child playing with a ball beneath a cherry tree hints at the roots that set the young footballer on his path to becoming a champion for the nation’s hungry kids
Marcus Rashford has never forgotten his roots and a tattoo on his torso shows exactly where his heart lies.
The inking is of a small child playing with a ball beneath a cherry tree.
In the background is the neat terraced home where the England and Manchester United striker lived as a youngster.
Children still play on the patch of the grass where he practised day and night and where his skills began to blossom.
And in the surrounding houses, neighbours speak glowingly to the Mirror about the local boy made good who is now waging war on poverty.
Kate Jenner, 31, lives in Marcus’ former family home with her wife Lizzie, 30.
The couple had no idea about the famous ex resident when they first moved in.
Kate said: “We used to get taxi drivers dropping us off and they’d say ‘you live in Marcus Rashford’s old house’.”
And she soon realised how much the down to earth footballer is admired in the community.
The HR manager said: “People are aware he has got those roots in the local area and they increasingly ask about it, which is good.
“His old primary school is just down the way and he visits there regularly.
“And with all the work he has done recently with food vouchers for the kids, it has gone down really well around here.”
Kate does not have children but thinks his campaign is “absolutely fantastic”.
“It is a cracking thing and it is only right as far as I’m concerned.
Parents should be able to put food on the table for their kids.
“He recognises that some parents struggle to do that and they need some support.
“If they are getting food vouchers in term time, why not extend that to make sure it is not a struggle for parents?”
She added: “He is a good lad, he really is. He just gets it and he understands. We are not struggling to put food on the table but we absolutely understand that other people across the country are.
“He understands that. He has been brought up with that as his lived experience and wants to do what he can and use his voice and his influence to improve things for those that are struggling.”
The house in Wythenshawe, Manchester, is owned by Marcus’ mum Melanie and he has returned on a couple of occasions for photo shoots, to the delight of residents.
Next door but one lives Jan Garvey, 68, and her husband David, 65.
And at the mere mention of his name, Jan reaches for one of her proudest possessions, a photo of her and Marcus leaning against the cherry tree.
Jan said: “He has actually got a tattoo of that tree.”
And she added: “He is a fantastic man. Everybody around here is so proud of him. He is a lovely lad.
“When we moved in Marcus had just moved out but he does come back and I had my photo taken with him in his England kit.”
She added: “He was here with a film crew and he came, I think they were doing a documentary about him.
“I went out and said ‘can I have my photo taken with you’.
“He was kicking a ball about with the local children on the front.
“I think he is just wonderful. And he has not forgotten his roots.”
Jan added: “He is a real inspiration for young people. It shows you can grow up around here and if you work hard you can do well.
“He is a very kind person to do what he is doing. He does not to have to do it does he?”
Jan is one of more than 800,000 people who have signed Rashford’s online petition demanding an expansion of the free school meal holiday scheme into next year.
“I’m fully behind it. I’m very proud of him” she said.
And she smiled: “I think with Marcus and Andy Burnham, we can’t really complain around here.”
Another neighbour, Anson Stephen, 45, used to watch the young Marcus kicking his ball for hours on end on the same turf where his two young sons, Jake, nine, and Dominic, five, now play.
“He was very dedicated. Marcus always had a football, at night time, in the morning time. He was very focused on his football.
“He was a very nice lad. All the family were lovely” he said.
Anson, a legal executive, also backs player’s efforts to help children across the UK.
“My children do not have free school meals but I think it is a really good idea.
“Marcus has experienced struggles so he understands what sort of struggles other children have and he is trying to do something that will really benefit them.”
He added: “People around here are very proud of him.”
Earlier this year Rashford forced the government to change its policy to allow 1.4 million children in England claim free school meal vouchers during the summer.
But in Parliament last week Tories voted down a plan to extend the scheme to include holidays into 2021.
And in response, scores of cafes, pubs, local authorities and food charities came forward to offer free food for hungry kids.
Rashford, 22, told his 3.6 million Twitter followers: “Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know.”
In Scotland and Wales, free meals will be provided during school holidays until Easter 2021, while in Northern Ireland they will be provided over the half-term break this month.
