As part of the 2-year Long-term Health Conditions project - Health Creation project (led by Manchester Settlement); Morrisso Health, with their neighbourhood lead organisation, FC United of Manchester, delivered the first “Know Your Numbers” blood pressure screening event at Broadhurst Park on Saturday, 29 November 2025, ahead of kick-off. The initiative aims to bring accessible, informal cardiovascular health checks into a familiar community setting and encourage early awareness of raised blood pressure.
Promotion for the event was delivered through both FC United of Manchester and Morrisso Health communication channels, ensuring reach across supporters and the wider local community. This was supported by a “Know Your Numbers” awareness video featuring key FC United players, which reinforced the importance of blood pressure checks and encouraged supporters to engage with the screening on matchday.
A total of 32 supporters and community members took part in the screening. The findings highlighted a clear need for this type of outreach. A substantial proportion of participants recorded elevated blood pressure, with an average reading of 144/87 mmHg, and several individuals recorded levels warranting follow-up with primary care. Many participants expressed surprise at their results, reinforcing the value of offering simple, opportunistic checks in a trusted, non-clinical environment.
Men accounted for the majority of higher readings, and blood pressure increased steadily with age, particularly among those aged 60 and over. Notably, among participants who reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension, none had blood pressure within recommended control ranges on the day of screening, highlighting the ongoing importance of engagement, monitoring, and follow-up support.
All participants received brief, tailored advice in line with NHS guidance, including information on home monitoring and when to seek GP review. To encourage engagement, everyone who took part was entered into a raffle to win a signed FC United shirt and club merchandise.
Following the success of this first event, two further screening sessions are scheduled at Broadhurst Park on:
- 20 December 2025
- 17 January 2026
These upcoming sessions will build on early momentum, allowing more supporters to “know their numbers,” start conversations about heart health, and take steps to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.
Contacts
For further information regarding this initiative, please contact Stacy Partridge [email protected]
or Kathy Morrison - Morrisso Health at [email protected].
For further information regarding the Long-term Conditions Project or ‘Health Creation’ information, please contact Maqbul Rose - Project Manager at Manchester Settlement at [email protected]
