## Social Media Sensation Angry Ginge to Feature at Soccer Aid: From Internet Fame to the Theatre of Dreams
This weekend promises a compelling mix of football legend and internet stardom, as Angry Ginge takes centre stage at Soccer Aid in Old Trafford. The 23-year-old content creator, whose rise to fame has been fuelled by his exuberant online persona, will line up alongside footballing greats and high-profile celebrities. For fans and followers alike, this marks the culmination of an extraordinary journey from the gaming chair to one of the sport’s most storied venues.
Best known by his online moniker, Angry Ginge, Morgan Burtwhistle first captured the imagination of football aficionados through his lively Twitch livestreams and regular social media posts—most notably as a die-hard supporter of Manchester United. His impending appearance at Old Trafford, the legendary home of his beloved club, arguably represents a personal milestone that many fans only dream of achieving.
The annual Soccer Aid event, organised to raise vital funds for UNICEF, brings together a fascinating line-up of sporting luminaries and celebrities. In addition to Manchester United icons like Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, and Nemanja Vidic, this year’s match features public figures such as Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, adventurer Bear Grylls, television presenter Paddy McGuinness, and pop star Louis Tomlinson. For Burtwhistle, sharing a pitch with his childhood heroes and well-known faces from across the worlds of sport and entertainment is likely to be a surreal experience.
Yet, Burtwhistle’s ascent has not just been confined to sporting charity events. Originating from Salford and born in November 2001, the charismatic streamer burst onto the scene during the pandemic, rapidly building a legion of fans on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Originally focusing on EA Sports’ FIFA titles and broadcast pack openings, Burtwhistle has since diversified his repertoire to include collaborations with YouTube powerhouses like the Sidemen, Chris MD, and Danny Aarons.
An amusing but revealing detail regarding Angry Ginge’s real name brought smiles to many football fans, and even left Premier League great Micah Richards in fits of laughter during a podcast conversation. When Richards, clearly enjoying the moment, asked for his “government name”, Burtwhistle nonchalantly replied “Morgan”, prompting Richards to burst into laughter. The giggles intensified when “Burtwhistle” followed as the family name, with both presenter and guest sharing in the light-hearted moment.
Beyond the charisma and banter, there is serious business behind the Angry Ginge brand. According to recent figures, Burtwhistle commands a massive audience—over 800,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 1.3 million Twitch followers. Financial analysts estimate his annual income from social media activity alone to be between £804,000 and £1.1 million—not including additional earnings from charity matches and the burgeoning Baller League.
His involvement extends to on-pitch participation as well. In September 2023, he made an impact in the highly-watched Sidemen Charity Match, scoring for YouTube Allstars and contributing to their eventual penalty shootout triumph. This year, Burtwhistle also played an active role in the Baller League UK, captaining Yanited and guiding them to the league final, competing weekly against a blend of ex-professionals and internet celebrities at the Copperbox Arena in London.
However, his passion for competition has not been without controversy. Burtwhistle found himself in the heart of a heated altercation during a Baller League match, when a physical exchange on the pitch led to a mass confrontation by the sidelines. Video footage showed Angry Ginge being restrained by stewards as he tried to intervene, while order was restored with the intervention of league organisers. Such incidents underscore both the intensity and drama that grassroots football and social media-driven competitions can generate.
With his fame and influence continuing to grow, Angry Ginge’s participation in Soccer Aid will no doubt draw new viewers to the charity match and further enhance the connection between digital culture and traditional football. His journey serves as a testament to how modern personalities are redefining sports celebrity—making the Theatre of Dreams accessible to a generation who discovered their love of football not just in stadiums but online.
As anticipation builds for Soccer Aid, one thing is certain: Angry Ginge’s presence promises not just entertainment, but also a powerful reminder of how rapidly the boundaries between sports, social media, and philanthropy are evolving.