Man Utd taking football to a remote part of Thailand
Young players training on their new pitch in Mae Suek, Thailand
- Published
Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra with young players on their new pitch in Mae Suek, Thailand
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has opened a new pitch for use by one of the most geographically isolated communities in the world.
United, together with long-term commercial partners DHL, have provided the pitch in Mae Suek in Thailand, as part of their 'Delivering Dreams' campaign.
Home to 11 villages and 11,577 people, Mae Suek is 140km from Chiang Mai, the nearest major city, and a two-and-a-half-hour round trip from the closest functional football pitch.
The pitches in the area are subject to extreme weather conditions that frequently render local fields unusable, and mountainous terrain means flat ground is at a premium.
"When I saw the smiles on the kids' faces when they played on this beautiful football pitch for the first time, it was a moment I won't forget," said Evra.
"When I was that age, I didn't have the opportunity or luxury to play on that kind of pitch.
"It's an amazing campaign and an honour to be chosen to cut the cord and be the first one playing on the pitch with those kids."