CHRISTMAS 2015: HOW UNITED'S CARD WAS MADE

This festive season, Manchester United will be giving away over 1,000 footballs to local projects associated with our Manchester United Foundation - and many of those balls appear on the club's official Christmas card for 2015.

The balls were used to build the tree for a special festive photoshoot which also featured Louis van Gaal, Ryan Giggs, United's first-team squad and 20 children who were invited to take part through their schools' association with the club's charitable Foundation.
The schools involved were Moorfield Primary and Saint Joseph The Worker RC Primary, both from Irlam, and Forest Gate Academy in Partington and the students didn't realise their Reds heroes would be joining them in the picture until the very last surprising minute.

John Shiels, Manchester United Foundation chief executive, said: "The Foundation has been lucky enough to feature in many of the club's Christmas cards over the years. However, none can be as memorable as the moment 20 local primary-school children found themselves standing alongside the Manchester United first-team squad to create this year’s card.
"I look forward to viewing all the other incredible experiences the club have lined up for the children we work with. They really have made dreams come true this Christmas and I thank them for their generosity."
You can support the Foundation's vital work in the local community by taking part in the annual Santa Run around Old Trafford on Sunday 13 December. For further information, visit manutd.com/santarun.