Manchester City's new found spending power isn't just fattening the bank accounts of the world's elite footballers.
Through their City Soccer Initiative, the club's hardworking community officers are able to make a significant difference in the lives of the people who come across their desk.
One such stunning example is last week's new rooftop soccer field the club funded for P.S. 72 Lexington Academy in East Harlem.
The six-story high turf soccer pitch is the result of partnership between the football club and the City Soccer Initiative and will give kids across the city access to coaching and education programs.
Christened as "City@School," the lighted, synthetic grass rooftop facility is the first-of-its-kind in Manhattan, and will be for the exclusive use of the elementary school and its students. The launch marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership with children across New York having access to Manchester City's award winning coaching and education programs.
"We want to leave a legacy for kids in New York and what better program that building a rooftop soccer pitch for kids to play, all year round eventually, on top of here," said Gary Hopkins of Manchester City .
"Back in England we do a lot of community work with our kids in Manchester, so we are just thrilled to come to New York to do the same."
Officials from the East Harlem School admit City's investment will benefit the community for many years into the future.
"This is a dream that's been in the making, in my mind anyway, for years," said the school principal Tony Hernandez. "I'm still waiting to get pinched and woken up. Manchester City Football Club and the City Soccer Initiative have been incredibly generous to our school, to our community. Our children, our families are going to benefit from this for years to come."
City goalkeeper Shay Given said: "I know Manhattan's got a lot of built up areas you know, so it's a fantastic idea to have a pitch on top of the school here. As you can see, it's great for the kids."
Jibes about lost balls will also be put to bed, as part of the next phase of the project, a dome will be built above the field to protect it from the elements. It is set to be complete by winter.
"I'm so happy," crowed third-grader Carlos Villanueva, 8. "I want to be up here every day!"
Nine-year-old Nazur West, after firing a shot into the goal, howled with delight.
"This is so cool! I love it here," a grinning Nazur shouted.
The fifth-grader's mother, Shenise Fields, said she's thrilled her boy has a new place to play the sport he loves.
"I'm so excited for my son," Fields told the New York Daily News. "Usually it's the private schools that get these things. It's good to see it happen in the inner city."
The Lexington Academy project came to fruition through a newly formed partnership with New York City-based Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC).
DUSC's Community Soccer Initiative is led by Paul Jeffries, a New Yorker and City fan who volunteers his time to act as CSI's Executive Director. Jeffries' commitment and desire to engage children in the community has been instrumental in the development of the rooftop pitch at Lexington Academy.
"We've seen a great response from children at the school who can't wait to use the field," said Jeffries. "The area is very passionate about soccer, and this pitch gives them a unique place to play right in their community."
The field was jointly funded by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and Manchester City Football Club, as the club is privately owned and operated by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan - a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. As the UAE embassy continues to build relationships in the United States, they are proud to have embarked upon this project that will have a meaningful impact to the community.
"Sports have an incredible ability to unite people and tangibly improve the communities they touch," said United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al Otaiba. "This field is a testament to the UAE's goal to think globally while acting locally."
