Modelled on Soccer Aid, this fundraiser will bring together high-profile figures from football, music, television and sport
Everton and Liverpool legends are setting aside one of football’s most intense rivalries for a major new charitable match the following month. The inaugural will feature a star-studded Merseyside XI battling a Rest of the World XI on Saturday, September 26, kicking off at 4.45pm at the Hill Dickinson stadium.
The event, similar in format to Soccer Aid, will unite prominent personalities from football, music, television and sport in support of Shelter and Everton in the Community, with money raised dedicated to addressing homelessness across Merseyside and further afield.
An impressive roster of football stars has already been confirmed for the first edition of this fixture.
Former Everton favourite Peter Reid and Liverpool legend John Barnes will serve as joint managers of the Merseyside XI, which features former club players Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry, Phil Jagielka, Yakubu and Joleon Lescott.
They will be complemented by numerous Liverpool crowd pleasers, among them Robbie Fowler, David James, Ryan Babel, Jari Litmanen, John Aldridge and Louis Saha.
Celebrity involvement for the Merseyside side will come from Everton and Liverpool supporters Tony Bellew, John Bishop, James Nelson-Joyce, Molly McCann, Still Ryan and Big Zuu, all of whom will don the team’s purple shirt – referencing both clubs in the city.
The opposing team is equally formidable.
The Rest of the World XI already includes Brazil World Cup-winning captain Cafu, Champions League victors Clarence Seedorf and Jaap Stam, former Netherlands forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Moroccan great Mustapha Hadji and England and Nottingham Forest defender Des Walker.
The celebrity roster features Ted Lasso actors Toheeb Jimoh and Moe Hashim, Gladiators’ Nitro – Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Johnny Nelson and Jack Fowler. There will also be a musical element for supporters, with Tinie Tempah set to play in the match and entertain during the interval entertainment.
Women’s football will have its representation, with seven-time Women’s Premier League champion Rachel Yankey and footballer and singer Chelcee Grimes among those confirmed.
Additional football legends, celebrities and special guests are anticipated to be revealed as the match approaches.
The fixture will form part of a full day of activities at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Fan Plaza offering food, music and family entertainment before and after the game.
The event arrives as homelessness continues to be a significant problem throughout the Liverpool City Region and the country.
More than 1,600 children in Liverpool are presently living without stable housing, growing up in temporary accommodation without the security every child deserves.
On a single night almost 5,000 people were documented sleeping outdoors in the UK, representing the highest number since records began and a 3% rise compared to the previous year. seeks to harness football’s appeal to collect both money and attention, supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Everton in the Community will contribute its local knowledge to the partnership, while Shelter will offer assistance through its efforts helping people and families facing homelessness and campaigning for housing justice.
Sue Gregory, Everton in the Community CEO, stated the occasion would give the city a chance to put rivalries aside and unite for an important cause.
She explained that homelessness ranks among the most pressing challenges confronting communities, and through their work across the Liverpool City Region they understand only too well that it can impact people from all backgrounds.
She noted that represents the city coming together to assert that everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live.
She added that football possesses a remarkable ability to bring people together and for one special afternoon they would be putting rivalries aside and leveraging that power to make a genuine impact.
Shelter’s Lauren Thompson commented that being selected as a charity partner for was an honour.
She stated it promises to be an exciting match, all aimed at collecting essential funds to help children and families experiencing homelessness.
Lester Holcombe, co-founder of LGNDS, explained the event would encompass more than simply a legends match.
He pointed out it brings together a tremendous cast of football icons, celebrities, entertainers and well-known faces to create a genuine family occasion, while leveraging football’s power and reach to highlight an incredibly important issue.
He observed that there is something particularly meaningful about Everton and Liverpool setting aside one of football’s great rivalries and uniting as a single Merseyside team for this cause.
Tickets for Tickets will be accessible online from 10am on Wednesday, August 19.
Everton Season Ticket Holders will benefit from exclusive pricing, with adults at £15 and under-16s at £10.
For the general sale, adults will be charged £25, while under-16 tickets are priced at £15.
Everton Premium Members will receive communication directly regarding their options, with premium packages released for general sale from 10am on Friday, August 21 via Seat Unique.