The powerful mural that humbled campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford

Tribute to Manchester United star for spearheading free school meals campaign

Young football fans in front of a mural of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford. PA 

He’s used to tens of thousands of adoring fans cheering him on at football games.

But a street mural painted on the wall of a Manchester cafe has humbled millionaire footballer Marcus Rashford – who is these days better-known for his high-profile campaign highlighting food poverty among England’s poorest.

Rashford took to Twitter to personally thank the artist behind the black and white mural unveiled in his hometown.

The mural, created by street artist Akse, honours the footballer’s successful campaign to have free school meals extended over the winter.

Rashford retweeted a picture of the mural with his thanks.

He said: “I usually get embarrassed sharing these things because this journey was never really about me, but I know this took a lot of time and effort.”

Rashford’s mother Melanie provided a quote for the mural, based on a photograph by Daniel Cheetham, which read: "Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose."

The tribute comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a phone call with Rashford at the weekend after weeks of refusing to budge on the footballer’s calls to extend free school meals.

Mr Johnson pledged to provide £170 million ($225.5m) for a coronavirus winter grant scheme for vulnerable families in England.

Free school meals will be extended to Easter under the programme.

The reversal came after a string of criticism from charities, the opposition Labour Party and even Mr Johnson’s own MPs, some of whom who suggested the refusal to extend free school meals went against the public’s expectations.

The Children's Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, summed up the row as like a chapter from Oliver Twist.

She told Sky News in October: "To have a debate about whether we should make sure that hungry and vulnerable children have enough to eat is something that is strikingly similar to something we'd expect to see in chapters of Oliver Twist - a novel published in the 19th century."

Rashford said he was “overwhelmed with pride” at the progress of his campaign.