[lfc-news] Tsunami Aid match report - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 27 Mar 2005
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT AS LEGENDS TURN ON THE STYLE
Steve Hunter at Anfield

Entertainment was the name of the game as Reds heroes like Dalglish,
Fowler, Rush and Molby turned back the years to raise a great deal of
money for the Tsunami Soccer Aid appeal at Anfield.

A Liverpool legends side beat a Celebrities XI 6-2 and thoroughly
entertained a massive crowd of 39,000 at Anfield. For Steve Fletcher,
Jason McAteer, David Johnson and Dave Lockwood it was the realisation of
their dream come true to stage this match and raise much needed funds
for the Tsunami appeal, Save The Children UK and Merlin.

Liverpool Football Club and Chief Executive Rick Parry were only too
happy to stage this match and the fans turned out in their thousands to
witness what could possible be the last time that all these Reds legends
turned out on the hallowed Anfield turf for a match.

The names just rolled off the tongue and it was truly a magical
occasion. The celebrities were great value too and it made for a great
game of competitive football. There were goals galore, laughs and jokes
were exchanged and the crowd just loved it.

Welsh opera singer Catherine Jenkins led the crowd in an emotional
'You'll Never Walk Alone' before kick-off and Liz McClarnon from Atomic
Kitten also enjoyed a sing-a-long with the Kop.

With Roy Evans away on international duty with Wales it was left to
Kenny Dalglish to take on the mantle of player-manager once again with
Ronnie Moran as his loyal and truly capable assistant.

One of the prime organisers Jason McAteer was given special permission
by Tranmere Rovers manager Brian Little to play 15 minutes and
captaining the Liverpool team he scored twice before leaving the field.
The first was a terrific finish after a great one-two with Robbie Fowler.

Fowler thought he had scored the third goal but the final touch actually
came off comic actor Patrick McGuinness, who plays bouncer Paddy in
Phoenix Nights with Peter Kay.

The Celebrities, managed by Southampton boss Harry Redknapp, then got
back into the game through Harvey from So Solid Crew. Now Harvey, a
massive Liverpool fan, had an ambition to score a goal at the Kop end
and he truly obliged when he set off like an olympic sprinter before
beating Bruce Grobbelaar at his near post.

John Aldridge was denied a goal by a brilliant save from his former
Tranmere Rovers team-mate Eric Nixon before Ian Rush made it 4-1 with a
fantastic left footed strike.

Into the second half Radio City competition winner Alan Farley got his
dream of playing at Anfield and captained the Reds side at left back.

Steve Fletcher, who had the original idea to stage this event, achieved
an ambition by scoring at his beloved Anfield to make it 4-2. Brian
McFadden set him clear and his chipped finish past Sander Westerveld was
majestic.

Then a truly special moment happened. Last year David Johnson suffered a
heart attack and had open heart surgery. Now he is fighting fit again
and he had a dream of playing at Anfield again and scoring at the Kop.
It arrived with a diving header from Jan Molby's pinpoint cross.

Then the biggest cheer of the day arrived and it nearly blew the Anfield
roof off as 'King' Kenny decided to bring himself on. Straight away
Dalglish showed us he still has the touch and class plus the eye for a
pass. One such through ball put Ian Rush away who was denied by Reds
keeper Paul Harrison, then from the rebound Fowler struck a superb
curling shot against the post.

Now John Aldridge last scored at Anfield in front of a packed Kop on his
farewell match in 1989 in the 9-0 rout against Crystal Palace. He
relived that moment again from a superb Dalglish through ball and
predator Aldo trademark finish for 6-2.

Try as he might Kop hero Robbie Fowler just couldn't score a goal and he
had so many near misses, as did Aldridge.

In the end the scoreline didn't matter but the real reason why we love
Liverpool FC so much was summed up in 90 minutes on an Easter Sunday in
2005. Football is all about entertainment and this was entertainment of
the highest order. To get 39,000 fans packed into Anfield and a singing
Kop to mark the day was just fantastic.

It was quite an emotional occasion too as there were LFC legends
everywhere you looked around Anfield with some working behind the scenes
in the lounges. One of Bill Shankly's greats Ian St John, commentating
for Liverpoolfc.tv remembered Emlyn Hughes and said his memory will live
on forever with Liverpool FC and how he would have loved to have been
here today. The Saint also passed on the LFC legends thoughts to wish
Anfield legend Ray Clemence a speedy recovery from his illness.

The displays from Molby, Fowler, Dalglish, Rush, Aldridge, Barnes and
Alan Kennedy to name but seven was class. A Robbie Fowler goal would
have been the icing on the cake but it just wasn't to be on the day no
matter how many times he tried. The reception Fowler, Dalglish and the
legends got from the Kop told it's own story.

The Celebrities showed they have some good players too. Ralf Little from
the Royle Family had an excellent game as did England cricket captain
Michael Vaughan. DJ Spoony and Harvey also showed they are more than
capable footballers.

The real winner was the Tsunami Soccer Aid appeal and for all that were
present at Anfield it was truly special.

Liverpool legends: Bruce Grobbelaar, Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Jason
McAteer, Phil Thompson, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, John Aldridge, Ian
Rush, Robbie Fowler, John Barnes, Ronnie Whelan, Jan Molby, Sander
Westerveld, David Johnson, Gary Ablett, Gary Gillespie, Paul Walsh and
competition winner Alan Farley
Didn't play, David Fairclough, Steve McManaman.

Celebrities managed by Harry Redknapp: Eric Nixon, Paul Harrison (LFC),
Patrick McGuinness (Paddy from Max and Paddy and Phoenix Nights), Ralf
Little (The Royle Family and LFC fan), Michael Vaughan (England cricket
captain), Nicky Byrne (Westlife), Brian McFadden (solo artist), John
Regis (former Olympic sprinter), Amir Khan (Olympic boxer), Harvey (So
Solid Crew and LFC fan), DJ Spoony (DJ and LFC fan), Tim Lovejoy (Soccer
AM), Niall Quinn (Ex-footballer), Paul Salt (Radio City newsdesk and LFC
fan), James Redmond (Casualty), Shane Ritchie (Alfie in EastEnders),
Marcus Patrick (Hollyoaks), Perry Fenwick (Billy from EastEnders),
Sergio Pizzorno (from rock band Kasabian), Steve Fletcher (Ex Brookside
and LFC fan), Ian Broudie (Lightning Seeds front man and LFC fan), Danny
Jones (from pop band McFly).

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